Is artificial lawn bad for the environment? Experts weigh-up the pros and cons.
We’re an increasingly bee-friendly, biodiversity-aware society. Many of our verges are filled with wildflowers, parks boast strips of pollinating plant life and in 2021 the BBC launched the Big Bee Challenge. This year, Plantlife's No Mow May saw lawns across the country being left to grow, with over 35 British councils taking part. Artificial Ivy Fence
We might be a nation of garden lovers but for a growing number, this means relaxing on artificial grass. Insurance provider Aviva found that 1 in 10 householders had swapped natural grass for artificial, with 29% considering it. But what is the impact of fake grass on the environment?
The long-term effects of covering soil with artificial grass can only be speculated upon but Dr Mick Hanley, who is Associate Professor of Plant-Animal Interactions at University of Plymouth tells us that limiting light, air and moisture will no doubt impact the organisms who depend on soil for the survival. “Inevitably, if you are putting what is ostensibly a plastic film across the soil, you are reducing the amount of rainfall entering the soil. It’s going to dry out. In addition to that, you are putting a cap on gas exchange and if we cut off gas supply we will change soil chemistry. We will affect everything from earth worms and slugs down to micro-organisms and what they can do in the soil.”
Harmful effects will continue if birds usually found in British gardens can’t feed as usual. Dr Hanley adds, “We will lose a host of ground feeding birds like starlings, blackbirds and robins – there would be a long-term effect on their populations. A study collected in Valencia in Spain showed the diversity of bird species was massively negatively affected by replacing real lawns for artificial.”
The impact of artificial grass on biodiversity receives a lot of focus, but Dr Hanley suggests that choosing to cover your outdoor space with concrete also has repercussions, particularly as climate change brings more extreme weather. “In many respects concreting driveways is a much bigger issue nationally than artificial lawns. When we get major downpours, we get massive flood events. Water isn’t draining into soil; it’s running off and has nowhere to go. It runs into the gutters, into the streams and rivers and somebody somewhere gets flooded. It’s a massive problem, particularly in urban environments."
However, he adds that artificial grass can also have an impact on flooding: "The more we replace natural turf with artificial, the less run-off we have, and the inevitable consequence is more problems with flash floods.”
The pandemic saw artificial grass companies like Lazy Lawn see a boom in enquiries and while business has remained at a steady level, Lazy Lawn’s Commercial Director Andy Driver says the public’s appetite for the outdoors hasn’t diminished: “We have an aging population and a practical choice is having an artificial lawn: it’s very low maintenance and the older generation can get outside and enjoy their space without lugging a lawn mower around. While they might have a lawn, they will also have plants and shrubs in the garden which they can tend to.”
Age and mobility aside, Andy says Lazy Lawn’s products are also popular with the time-poor, especially busy families. “It’s a practical choice for families with dogs and active kids where their lawn gets hammered with use.”
A key selling point of artificial lawns is ease, Andy adds: “We market Lazy Lawns as low maintenance. It depends on how house-proud you are, but you can brush off leaves and debris. You can spot and kill any weeds that pop up although some argue a few weeds look more natural.”
When it comes to laying an artificial lawn, it’s not as easy as scattering a handful of grass seed and watching it grow. Lazy Lawn recommends employing professionals to do the job, which has several stages. Firstly, turf cutting then adding a layer of stones for drainage and to stabilise the earth. Finally, the artificial grass is laid. There are distinct standards lawn manufacturers adhere to and all products are REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of Chemicals) tested.
Artificial grass is a different substance to a traditional lawn so Andy points out consumers need to be aware of a few things: “Be aware that you can’t have a barbecue on the lawn. Tools like hedge trimmers which can get hot can damage it.”
And if you’ve adopted the trend for an outdoor mirror, there’s a fire risk. Andy explains, “A lot of people have outdoor mirrors but if they bounce sun rays on to the lawn, you could melt or burn the artificial grass.”
Ultimately, the decision of whether to replace natural turf with a man-made version rests with consumers and our individual garden needs. But if the environment comes into your decision-making when you buy a product, it's worth weighing up the pros and cons.
As in every industry, the sustainability aims of artificial lawn manufacturers are evolving. The ESTC (European Synthetic Turf Council) suggests they are aiming for fully recyclable turf products with ambitions for a UK recycling hub by 2025.
As things currently stand, Andy from Lazy Lawns says that lawns made from polyethylene and polyproline with latex backing can be recycled, although they can’t be made into grass again. It's worth bearing in mind, though, that energy and natural resources will be used in the recycling process itself.
What's more, the conservation charity Plantlife says that manufacturing the artificial grass needed to cover a fairly average-sized 60sqm urban garden is likely to amount to around 430kg of CO2 emissions – that's the same as the CO2 emissions needed to manufacture a fridge, or two washing machines.
It also makes the case that an infrequently mown natural lawn can actually absorb carbon from the atmosphere and has benefits for wildlife. Drainage continues to be an issue exacerbated by climate change and we also should spare a thought for what happens below soil as well as above it.
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