ARTIFICIAL GRASS AND THE ENVIRONMENT – A FEW FACTS
So artificial grass has come a long way. Its benefits are so apparent that a lot of people in and around the West Midlands and Worcestershire have started to use it in their lawns.
One of the biggest advantages of artificial grass is its flexibility; obviously it’s perfect for gardens and lawns, but we are now installing on balconies, patios and pathways, play area, nurseries and schools etc. In fact its uses are endless!
Despite all that, some people are still hesitant about doing the switch and perhaps, the biggest question of all is this: Is it safe for the environment?
Fact – Real grass needs water and it needs a lot of it, especially during the growing and summer seasons, and everyone knows how important it is to conserve and use resources. Artificial Grass does need some water, you only need to hose down your artificial turf once in a while to remove dirt and dust or, perhaps, if your pets used it to do their ‘business’.
Fact – Artificial Grass installed by Consumer Grass is made using materials that are recyclable (not all companies offer this grass). Even the backing can easily be melted down to create new products.
Fact – To keep real grass healthy and beautiful it need to be mowed, fed and weeded lots of maintenance equipment, all require fuel, either Petrol, Diesel or electric to power the equipment which emit greenhouse gases which are not good for the environment. Obviously artificial grass doesn’t have to be cut as it simply looks superb from day one. Another advantage of artificial grass over a real lawn is it will never be toxic. That’s because you don’t need to use weed killers, pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides to protect it. Real grass though, needs them to make sure it’s protected from pests and diseases.
These chemicals are harmful to both humans and animals (especially if you have pets). Not only that, they can damage the environment in ways you probably didn’t think were possible. The risk lies when the harsh chemicals find their way into local water sources like rivers, ponds and streams.
It is common knowledge that once these harsh chemicals reach local waters, they can potentially damage animal and marine wildlife. Excessive amounts of toxins can also cause algae to populate rivers and streams, killing fish and vegetation in the process.
Fact – Artificial Grass is not living vegetation therefore doesn’t absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Natural grass also provides habitats for living creatures like insects, plants, and other organisms which are essential to break down and recycle organic and inorganic products that fall into the grass. However most Artificial Lawns we install are then complimented by the customers favourite plants, flowers, trees and bushes, providing the required habitat and benefits for most insects.
Fact – Artificial grass doesn’t absorb water, unlike real grass. What it does is it simply drain it through the surface or along the ground into the sewers. What’s nice about this is an infrastructure can be made or set up to harvest this water runoff. The harvested water can then be used for other purposes such as watering plants and trees. While it can require a significant investment, it’s worth noting it is an eco-friendly possibility.
In conclusion, as you can see, artificial grass has its benefits as to how eco-friendly it is. It obviously isn’t perfect, but neither is real grass, however when customers are making their choices we are transparent with both its benefits and cons from installation and environmental impacts. Many of our West Midlands based customers are installing Artificial Lawns as a lifestyle choice.
If you have any further questions or would like to speak to our team of specialists please contact us on 0121 716 0001 or by e-mailing us.
