Synthetic Grass Can Be Eco-Friendly

The artificial grass market is growing and is now worth $2 billion, despite rising concern for the environment. You may be surprised to learn that installing the fake greenery can actually lower your carbon footprint. It stays perfect with no maintenance required, making it the ideal choice for the proud homeowner. However, you should be aware of its impact on the environment and learn to minimize harm caused.

Problems with Artificial Grass

The Earth’s wildlife requires nature to thrive, but the building of artificial environments for the benefit of humans threatens their existence. A real grass and soil garden offers the nutrients that animals require. An artificial lawn provides nothing for the birds, insects and rodents that exist in your area.

Then there is the impact of manufacturing. Like any plastic product, a huge amount of energy is required to create and transport the turf to your yard. Unlike real plantlife, artificial grass doesn’t remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

Environmental Benefits of Fake Greenery

The problems of synthetic grass are worth paying attention to, but always consider the other side of the argument. Plants require water and maintaining a healthy lawn makes up a large percentage of your water needs. It is estimated that 30% of daily water usage is used outdoors and around half of this is for grass and plants. By installing artificial grass, you are already significantly reducing your water usage and saving the energy needed to pump that water.

That’s not to mention the saved energy from not having to use maintenance equipment such as a lawn mower. Furthermore most synthetic grass, unlike other plastics, is completely non-toxic. There is no risk of it emitting harmful chemicals and there are no chemical fertilizers required to maintain it. All this means that you may actually be saving energy and reducing carbon by using the fake stuff. Artificial grass can last up to 20 years, so that’s decades of saved water and energy once the initial installation is complete.

Buy Recycled

There are environmental pros and cons to synthetic grass, but if you do go for it, then how can you limit your impact? One great way is with recycled fake lawn material. Ideally, you know someone or can find someone online who is looking to get rid of their fake turf. By taking it off them, there is no manufacturing involved and little transportation required. Recycling is a growing trend, with 34.3% of all waste being reused.

Search online for recycled artificial grass for sale. You’ll likely find something that looks brand new, but uses far less energy. This way, you can receive all the benefits of artificial grass, with less downsides in terms of carbon emissions.

Laying down an artificial lawn can make your life easier, but this doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. Be mindful of local wildlife, offering some plants and bushes if you can. By purchasing recycled artificial grass, you’ll be lowering your water and energy usage, so that you can maintain your eco-friendly values.

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

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