When field hockey players face off at the Paris Olympics next year, they will be treading on what is being called the world’s first carbon-neutral synthetic surface for the sport, according to German supplier Polytan.

The company said the fibres of its artificial turf are made of the organically based polyethylene brand, I’m Green, supplied by Brazilian polyolefin producer Braskem, which uses sugar cane to produce the resin. Polytan noted that around 80% of the turf, aptly named Poligras Paris GT zero, is made of such PE, which saves around 73 t of CO₂ versus conventional synthetic turf.

The pitch supplier added that its latest product requires even less water to make the field slicker thanks to a patented surface friction technology. Let the games begin!