End-of-life management of artificial turf: State of the art and future challenges

Artificial turf systems have become increasingly widespread in urban environments, providing durable and weather-independent surfaces for a wide range of sports. Yet, their multi-material composition poses critical challenges for sustainable end-of-life management. A growing number of industrial actors are developing recycling solutions, but these efforts remain fragmented and only partially documented. The present review examines the current state of artificial turf recycling through a systematic literature review complemented by expert interviews with industry stakeholders. The holistic examination of contemporary artificial turf recycling processes reveals that the separation of major components-namely turf carpet, performance infill, and stabilising infill-along with their diverse polymer fractions, is imperative to achieve high-quality secondary materials. Nevertheless, this process remains technologically and economically demanding due to the high complexity and variety of products. Current practices often face limitations in terms of recycling efficiency, transport logistics, and the lack of standardised data, which in turn affects recycling practice, life cycle assessments and policy evaluation. This review makes a significant contribution to the field by providing a detailed mapping of European practices at a level of technological detail not previously published. It highlights challenges and identifies research gaps concerning materials, products, processes and assessment methodologies. It provides a more profound understanding of the environmental implications of artificial turf recycling and outlines pathways for advancing sustainable waste management strategies in the artificial turf sector. Furthermore, it addresses the internal tensions within this highly competitive industry.