Polytan Supports FIH to Make Sport Sustainable
Newly-launched FIH Sustainability Strategy highlights 4 Polytan Innovations
On 4 November 2022 the FIH launched its global “Sustainability Strategy for Hockey”, a collective plan for the entire global hockey community to help grow hockey around the world in a sustainable way.
The framework, which is aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and IOC guidance, includes a number of best practice case studies designed to inspire and educate the hockey community to help build a healthy long-term future for the sport.
Four of these initiatives feature Polytan innovations, where we have helped make hockey around the world:
Big Stadium Hockey at The Stoop, Twickenham
Big Stadium Hockey: The world’s first elite-level portable pitch system for hockey
As part of a collective initiative spearheaded by England Hockey, we developed the ground-breaking portable pitch technology which transformed The Stoop, home of Harlequins Rugby into a world-class hockey venue.
The advent of portable hockey has been a catalyst for the sustainable growth of the game because it sets hockey free from smaller hockey-only stadiums to go wherever it wants.
The breakthrough has been designed to be environmentally friendly; the system is reusable, it utilises existing venues, the turf is made from green technology and recycled materials are used in other elements of the system. It’s a win:win for players, fans and the planet.
Tokyo2020: Bio Plastic Turf
Poligras Tokyo GT was developed to support Tokyo’s goal for a carbon-neutral games and utilises filaments from over 60% renewable raw materials derived from sugar cane. It requires up to 65% less water than other elite surfaces and set a new standard for player and environmental performance.
Polytan has invested a further two years of R&D into the Green Technology that was developed for Tokyo. The result is the world’s first carbon zero hockey turf which will provide the stage for the world’s best teams at Paris 2024.
Oi Stadium, Tokyo
Hockey5s, Lausanne
Hockey5s Lausanne: On non-watered turf
Each turf we have developed since the Sydney Olympics has seen a reduction in the amount of water required for optimum play. For example, the Tokyo Olympic turfs required 39% less water than the turfs at Rio 2016. For the FIH’s inaugural Hockey5s event in Lausanne we developed a dry turf prototype which is the first time a non-watered turf has been used in international competition. This turf evolution marked a massive step forward in the journey towards dry hockey.
Uzbekistan’s First Turf
Through our partnership with the Asian Hockey Federation, Polytan supported the continued growth of the game in the region with the donation of a Poligras turf to the Stadium Barkamolavlod in Uzbekistan. The stadium has become the first ever top-class hockey facility in the country and the 6th biggest hockey stadium in the world. Most importantly, it has served as a catalyst for youth development, training programmes and the growth of the game in Uzbekistan.
Stadium Barklamolavod, Uzbekistan
We make sport sustainable
“We are proud that our green turf projects and innovations have been recognised amongst such an inspiring collection of best practice case studies within the FIH’s Sustainability Strategy. As hockey’s partner since 1976 we have seen the sport continually evolve and we remain committed to the game through innovations that sustain it for future. It has been an honour to work alongside the FIH and Asian Hockey on these initiatives and our work doesn’t stop here. The hockey turfs of tomorrow will be portable, sustainable, carbon zero and recyclable.” – Paul Kamphuis, Head of Hockey, Polytan