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Eco-Friendly
What Does "Eco-Friendly" Mean?
Eco-Friendly: adjective | ec·o-friend·ly – “Not harmful to the environment.” – Merriam Webster
The term “eco-friendly” is often used to describe products, services, or practices that are designed to have a minimal negative impact on the environment. It is a broad term that can encompass a wide range of considerations. In general, eco-friendly products and practices are those that have a lower environmental impact than conventional alternatives. By making eco-friendly choices, we can help to reduce our impact on the planet and create a more sustainable future.
Is Artificial Turf More Eco-Friendly Than Natural Grass
Yes, artificial turf is generally more eco-friendly than natural grass for several reasons. Artificial turf requires significantly less water for maintenance compared to natural grass lawns. Traditional grass lawns demand regular watering to stay green and healthy, contributing to water scarcity issues, particularly in regions with arid climates or drought conditions. In contrast, artificial turf installations typically involve minimal irrigation, if any, as they are designed to withstand dry conditions and retain their appearance without constant watering.
Synthetic grass eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that are commonly used to maintain natural grass lawns. These chemicals can leach into the soil and waterways, causing pollution and harm to ecosystems. By foregoing the use of these chemicals, artificial turf reduces the risk of water contamination and promotes a safer environment for wildlife, pets, and humans. Additionally, artificial turf requires less maintenance overall, leading to fewer greenhouse gas emissions from lawn care equipment such as lawn mowers and trimmers.
Overall, the reduced water usage, elimination of harmful chemicals, and lower maintenance requirements make artificial turf a more eco-friendly option compared to natural grass. Below, we’ll take a closer look at the areas in which artificial turf is more eco-friendly than natural grass lawns.
Conserve Water With Artificial Grass
In the United States, residential landscape irrigation is estimated to account for nearly 9 billion gallons of water per day. In some regions, outdoor water use can account for up to 70 percent of a resident’s water consumption. With growing concerns over freshwater supply and increasing water scarcity, conserving this precious resource is more important than ever before. Updating your landscaping with more eco-friendly options is a great way to reduce your residential or commercial property’s impact on the environment.
For those living in drought-prone areas, maintaining a lush, green, natural grass lawn is pretty much impossible. In the U.S. watering an average sized lawn for 20 mins a day for 7 days is akin to running the shower for 4 days straight or taking 800+ showers. That’s equivalent to 1 year’s worth of showers for the average family. Even with the most efficient sprinkler system watering your lawn, up to 50% of the water used outdoors is lost due to wind, evaporation, and runoff.
In contrast, artificial turf requires minimal water, making it ideal for water conservation efforts. Occasional hosing to remove dirt and dust is recommended for most turf installations. If you have a dog or dogs in your household, more frequent hosing may be necessary. Synthetic turf does not need water to remain lush and functional.
Reduce Emissions & Lower Your Carbon Footprint
Artificial grass contributes to reducing emissions and lowering carbon footprints primarily through its lower maintenance requirements compared to natural grass lawns. Maintaining natural grass lawns often involves regular mowing, trimming, and other maintenance activities, typically with gas powered equipment.
According to a study by Quiet Communities, gas-powered equipment released 26.7 million tons of pollutants in 2011. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that gas-powered lawn mowers account for 5% of total air pollution in the United States, with higher contributions in urban areas.
The two-cycle engines found on most lawn mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, etc. are notorious for the emissions produced during use. Carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and hydrocarbons escape from the engines in large quantities. Leaf blowers are the worst offenders in the landscaping equipment category, but mowers and trimmers use the same or very similar 2 and 4-cycle engines.
The Problem With Gas-Powered Lawn Equipment
Lawn equipment powered by gasoline, typically use either a two-stroke or four-stroke engine. Approximately 800 million gallons of gasoline are used annually to fuel this equipment, with an additional 17 million gallons being spilled during the refueling process.
Two-stroke engines do not have a separate lubricant system and require a mixture of fuel and oil. About 30% of the fuel doesn’t combust completely, releasing toxic gases into the air. A 2014 study found that two-stroke scooters emit harmful gases at levels 124 times higher than those emitted by idling cars or trucks. Four-stroke engines, while slightly more environmentally efficient, still contribute to pollution. For example, operating a four-stroke lawnmower for one hour is equivalent to a vehicle traveling 500 miles in terms of emissions.
According to tests conducted by Edmunds’ InsideLine.com, a consumer-grade leaf blower emits more pollutants than a 6,200 lbs 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. The tests found that a Ryobi 4-stroke leaf blower spews out almost 7X’s more oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 13.5X’s more carbon monoxide (CO) than the Raptor. An Echo 2-stroke leaf blower performed even worse, generating 23X’s the CO and nearly 300X’s more non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) than the Raptor.
Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor at Edmunds.com said, “The hydrocarbon emissions from a half-hour of yard work with the two-stroke leaf blower are about the same as a 3,900-mile drive from Texas to Alaska in a Raptor. As ridiculous as it may sound, it is more ‘green’ to ditch your yard equipment and find a way to blow leaves using a Raptor.”
Leaf blowers aren’t the only household tool that uses a two-stroke engine. Many lawn mowers also rely on the technology. A 2001 Swedish study showed that using a gas-powered lawn mower for 1 hour releases approximately the same amount of air pollutants as driving a car 100 miles.
Synthetic Grass Eliminates Toxic Chemicals Like Fertilizers & Pesticides
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lawn and garden pesticides are among the most frequently used chemicals in residential areas, with over 136 million pounds applied annually. Incredibly, 40-60% of the nitrogen fertilizer applied to natural grass lawns ends up in surface and groundwater. This leads to contamination and impaired ecological health in our rivers, lakes, ponds, and coastal waters.
Artificial turf eliminates the need for chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides. Unlike natural grass lawns, which rely on fertilizers to promote growth and pesticides to control pests and weeds, artificial turf does not undergo biological processes that necessitate such treatments. As a result, once installed, artificial turf remains lush and green without the need for chemical applications.
The absence of fertilizers and pesticides in artificial turf maintenance helps prevent groundwater contamination by reducing the risk of chemical runoff and leaching. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides applied to natural grass lawns can leach into the soil and percolate down into groundwater, contaminating drinking water sources and aquatic ecosystems. This pollution poses risks to human health and wildlife, as exposure to harmful chemicals can lead to adverse health effects.
According to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, polluted storm water runoff is the number one cause of water pollution in their state, with common examples including over fertilizing lawns and excessive pesticide use.
By avoiding the use of these chemicals altogether, artificial turf prevents groundwater contamination, ensuring the safety of water resources and protecting ecosystems from the harmful impacts of chemical pollution. Additionally, artificial turf provides a safe and clean surface for children and pets to play on, as it eliminates the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals commonly used in lawn maintenance.
These chemicals can pose health hazards if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, particularly for young children and animals who are more vulnerable to their effects. By creating a chemical-free environment, artificial turf promotes the well-being and safety of families and pets, allowing them to enjoy outdoor activities without concerns about exposure to harmful substances.
Overall, the elimination of fertilizers and pesticides through the use of artificial turf helps preserve soil health and biodiversity by avoiding the negative impacts of chemical pollution. Chemical fertilizers can lead to nutrient imbalances and soil degradation, while pesticides can harm beneficial organisms and disrupt ecosystems. By maintaining soil integrity and ecological balance, artificial turf supports healthier and more resilient landscapes, contributing to overall environmental sustainability.
Artificial Turf Keeps Lawn Trimmings Out of Landfills
With the average American spending 150 hours per year maintaining their natural grass lawn, it’s bound to produce a lot of waste. According to estimates from the EPA, 35.4 million tons of yard trimmings were generated in 2018 making up 12.1% of Municipal Solid Waste in landfills.
Artificial turf helps keep lawn trimmings out of landfills by eliminating the need for regular mowing and trimming associated with natural grass lawns. Traditional grass lawns produce lawn trimmings, such as grass clippings and pruned vegetation, during routine maintenance activities. These trimmings, when not properly managed, often end up in landfills where they contribute to organic waste accumulation.
However, with artificial turf, there is no grass to mow or trim, significantly reducing the generation of lawn trimmings. This means that homeowners and landscapers can avoid the disposal of grass clippings, thereby diverting organic waste from landfills and reducing the environmental burden associated with waste management.
When lawn trimmings are dumped in landfills, they can have several negative environmental impacts. Organic waste like grass clippings decomposes anaerobically in landfills, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Additionally, the decomposition process generates leachate, a liquid runoff containing harmful chemicals and pollutants, which can contaminate soil and groundwater if not properly managed.
The disposal of lawn trimmings in landfills consumes valuable landfill space, contributing to the rapid filling of these facilities and the need for expansion, which can lead to habitat destruction and environmental degradation. Overall, diverting lawn trimmings from landfills through the use of artificial turf helps mitigate these negative environmental impacts and promotes more sustainable waste management practices.
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