Artificial turf has been quietly polluting the oceans for decades, shedding tiny plastic fragments that wash into waterways every time it rains. Now two Japanese companies have engineered a radical answer: turf that breaks down naturally, even in seawater. Starting this season, the world's first biodegradable artificial turf has been installed at a professional sports venue in Nagoya, Japan.

A World First at Vantelin Dome Nagoya

In February 2026, Vantelin Dome Nagoya, the home stadium of the Chunichi Dragons professional baseball team, unveiled a groundbreaking addition to its facility. The stadium's newly constructed "Home Run Wing" area now features biodegradable artificial turf in its warning zone, the strip along the outfield fence that alerts fielders they're approaching the wall.

The product, called "Re Green Grass 9," was jointly developed by sporting goods giant Mizuno and chemical manufacturer Kaneka Corporation. It marks the first time biodegradable artificial turf has been installed at a professional sports facility anywhere in the world, a milestone that sits at the intersection of athletic performance and environmental innovation.

The Hidden Pollution Problem of Artificial Turf

Why would artificial turf need to be biodegradable? The answer lies in one of the most overlooked sources of microplastic pollution on the planet.

Conventional artificial turf is made from petroleum-based plastics. Over time, player activity, weather exposure, and general wear cause the synthetic grass blades to break down into tiny fragments. These microplastics enter stormwater systems and eventually reach rivers and oceans. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) estimates that approximately 16,000 tons of crumb rubber escapes from artificial turf fields into the environment across Europe each year.

Research suggests artificial turf may be responsible for 12% to 50% of global microplastic pollution. In response, the European Union has enacted regulations that will ban the sale of synthetic polymer infill for sports surfaces by 2031. In the United States, where an estimated 19,000 artificial turf fields are in use, growing concerns about PFAS ("forever chemicals") detected in turf materials have added urgency to the debate.

Against this backdrop, the concept of turf that simply dissolves back into nature represents a fundamental shift in thinking.

Green Planet: The Biopolymer Born from Microbes

The technology at the heart of Re Green Grass 9 is Kaneka's proprietary biopolymer called "Green Planet." It's a 100% plant-derived material produced through microbial fermentation using plant oils as feedstock.

What makes Green Planet exceptional is its ability to biodegrade not only in soil but also in seawater, a property that most biodegradable plastics cannot achieve. Microorganisms naturally present in soil and ocean water break the material down into just CO2 and water. The material holds the internationally recognized "OK Biodegradable MARINE" certification from TÜV AUSTRIA, which requires over 90% biodegradation within six months in seawater at 30°C (86°F).

Kaneka began researching this material in the early 1990s, years before marine microplastic pollution became a global talking point. The journey started when researchers discovered a microorganism capable of producing the polymer in the soil at Kaneka's Takasago industrial complex. However, early yields were minuscule, and three decades of research and development were needed to achieve commercially viable production.

Today, Green Planet has already found its way into everyday life in Japan. It's used in Starbucks straws, Seven-Eleven coffee cup straws, JAL in-flight shopping bags, and FamilyMart cutlery, gradually replacing petroleum-based single-use plastics.

Mizuno's Turf Expertise: Half a Century of Installations

Mizuno, founded in 1906, brings more than half a century of sports facility construction expertise to the partnership. The company holds the top market share for artificial turf installations in Japanese professional baseball stadiums and has been actively pursuing environmental initiatives since 1991.

In recent years, Mizuno developed its "Mizuno Spiral Technology," a specialized crimping process for turf fibers that reduces fiber breakage and limits the dispersal of rubber infill material. The company has also created infill made from recycled tea leaves as part of its sustainability efforts.

But even the most durable petroleum-based turf eventually sheds fragments that persist in the environment indefinitely. To address this fundamental limitation, Mizuno partnered with Kaneka to create turf that would simply return to nature when those inevitable fragments escape.

Making Biodegradable Turf Play Like the Real Thing

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Re Green Grass 9 is that it doesn't compromise on athletic performance, an achievement that required significant technical innovation.

The biggest hurdle was manufacturing monofilament fibers from biodegradable polymer. Standard artificial turf blades are made by extruding petroleum-based resins into single-strand fibers, but achieving this with biopolymer material was considered extremely difficult. Through specialized resin formulations and carefully designed manufacturing conditions, the Mizuno-Kaneka team accomplished what the industry thought wasn't possible. By optimizing the cross-sectional shape of the fibers, they achieved a texture and feel comparable to conventional artificial turf.

Over 90% of the turf blade material is derived from biomass, significantly reducing CO2 emissions compared to petroleum-based alternatives. Notably, the entire manufacturing process, from fiber production to final turf assembly, takes place domestically in Japan.

Hidehisa Manou, Senior Managing Director of Nagoya Dome Corporation, stated at the press conference: "The biggest feature is the high environmental performance. The safety, durability, and cushioning for the playing environment are equivalent to conventional artificial turf. We hope to demonstrate a new approach to environmental responsibility."

Professional players contracted with Mizuno who tested the surface gave it high marks, confirming that the biodegradable turf meets the demanding standards of professional baseball.

Government Recognition

The innovation has received official recognition from Japan's Ministry of the Environment. Mizuno's biodegradable artificial turf earned the Gold Award in the "Use and Reduce" category of the "Plasuma Awards 2026," part of the ministry's "Plastic Smart" campaign to combat marine plastic waste. The award specifically highlighted the successful combination of environmental performance with real-world usability.

What This Means for the Future of Sports Infrastructure

With the EU's 2031 infill ban approaching and environmental scrutiny of artificial turf intensifying worldwide, the timing of this Japanese innovation is significant. Re Green Grass 9 represents not just a product but a proof of concept, demonstrating that the sports industry doesn't have to choose between performance and environmental responsibility.

Mizuno and Kaneka plan to expand installation to sports facilities and commercial venues across Japan, while also developing outdoor-rated ocean-biodegradable turf for open-air fields. Kaneka is scaling Green Planet production capacity from its current level of about 20,000 tons per year toward a target of 100,000 to 200,000 tons annually, with plans for manufacturing expansion in both Europe and the Americas.

The warning zone at Vantelin Dome covers only a small portion of the stadium's total playing surface. But in the world of environmental innovation, small starts can signal massive shifts. If biodegradable turf proves its durability over a full professional baseball season, it could fundamentally change how stadiums worldwide think about their playing surfaces.

In Japan, the push to make sports facilities more environmentally sustainable is gaining real momentum. What about where you live? Are stadiums and sports venues in your country taking steps to reduce their environmental impact? Have you ever thought about the hidden pollution from artificial turf? We'd love to hear your perspective.

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