WORLD'S FIRST ALL-NATURAL ARTIFICIAL SURFACE LAUNCHED

Notts Sport has announced the launch of CocoTurf Cricket, which they describe as the world’s first 100% natural, plastic-free artificial cricket surface.

The company says the surface is designed from the ground up using natural material and "represents a major step forward in sustainable facility development for cricket at all levels of the game."

Notts Sports say that CocoTurf Cricket builds on their CocoTurf technology and has been specifically re-engineered to meet the demands of cricket performance. The surface is constructed entirely from natural coconut fibres, jute backing, and certified natural latex, creating what they describe as a high-performance wicket system with zero plastics, zero microplastics, and zero PFAS. A spokesperson for Notts Sports said of the surface, "This makes it the first artificial cricket surface of its kind worldwide and a significant milestone in reducing environmental impact in sport."

The first installation of CocoTurf Cricket has taken place at Lord’s Cricket Ground. The company said, "The surface has undergone full cricket performance testing, including a Ball Pitch Impact Assessment, which confirmed the system’s consistent bounce, realistic pace and long-term durability comparable to professionally prepared non-turf wickets. An ECB application is currently in process, marking an important step toward official recognition and future adoption by clubs, schools, county boards and national programmes."

CocoTurf Cricket has been developed, say the company, to support the growing need for environmentally responsible solutions within the sport. With concerns increasing around microplastic shedding, PFAS contamination and the environmental cost of synthetic materials, CocoTurf Cricket offers a future-proofed alternative that aligns with the sport’s sustainability objectives. The system is Oeko-Tex certified, 100% recyclable, features a dense pile weight of 1,300 g/m², and achieves an exceptional water infiltration rate of 15,166 mm/hr, providing reliable use throughout the year.

Each square metre of CocoTurf Cricket uses fibres from 6.5 coconuts, meaning approximately 585 coconuts contribute to a single-lane match facility. This approach transforms natural by-products into high-performance surfacing technology and reduces dependence on petrochemical-based materials. The product is protected under International Patent Application No. PCT/GB2024/050422 (pending).

Duncan Bennett, CEO of Notts Sport, said, “CocoTurf Cricket is a genuine breakthrough for cricket facilities. For the first time, the sport has access to an artificial surface that performs like a professionally prepared pitch but is made entirely from natural materials. This is a major step toward eliminating plastics from non-turf systems and creating facilities that protect both players and the environment.”

Adam Walker, Technical Manager at Notts Sport, added: “We engineered CocoTurf Cricket with players in mind, but with absolute commitment to sustainability. This surface shows that you no longer have to choose between performance and environmental responsibility - you can have both.”