KANEKA Biodegradable Polymer Green Planet™ Used for Artificial Turf Blades and Filler Jointly Developed for Indoor Sports with Mizuno
KANEKA CORPORATION
June 10, 2025
Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Kazuhiko Fujii) and Mizuno Corporation (Headquarters: Osaka; President: Akito Mizuno) have jointly developed artificial turf blades and filler for indoor sports using KANEKA Biodegradable Polymer Green Planet™ (hereinafter "Green Planet"). Combining Mizuno's technical expertise in artificial turf with Kaneka's Green Planet material forming technology has resulted in turf blades with high durability suitable for sports applications and a texture similar to conventional artificial turf (*1). This is the world’s first application of Green Planet in artificial turf blades (*2).June 10, 2025
Green Planet is a 100% biomass-derived biodegradable polymer developed by Kaneka based on our desire to provide environmentally friendly solutions that do not depend on petroleum resources. Due to its biodegradability into CO2 and water by microorganisms living in soil and seawater, it can contribute to solving the problem of marine plastic pollution.
Artificial turf can break down into fragments that can unintentionally flow into the ocean and become microplastics, harming marine ecosystems. This is a growing concern (*3). The artificial turf blades and filler developed in collaboration with Mizuno are designed to biodegrade into water and CO2 if released into the ocean, thereby helping to prevent microplastic pollution. Additionally, Green Planet is derived from biomass, which enables it to reduce CO2 emissions compared to petroleum-based artificial turf blades and filler.
Based on our mission of KANEKA thinks “Wellness First”, Kaneka provides value globally as a solution provider. Based on the development of technologies and applications using our proprietary polymer technology and biotechnology, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by promoting Green Planet on a global scale.
(*1) It has been confirmed that this product has the same sports performance as existing Mizuno products.
(*2) As marine biodegradable artificial turf blades using Green Planet. Based on research by Kaneka, as of June 2025
(*3) Out of 11,000-27,000 tons of plastic waste flowing into the ocean from Japan, artificial turf pile discharged into the ocean is 240 tons annually (provisional figure) and artificial turf filler discharged into the ocean is 540-2,700 tons. (“Estimation of the leakage amount of Plastic Litter into the Environment 2025” by Ministry of the Environment)
Artificial turf and turf filler made from Green Planet *White pellets are fillers
(Pictures provided by Mizuno)
(*2) As marine biodegradable artificial turf blades using Green Planet. Based on research by Kaneka, as of June 2025
(*3) Out of 11,000-27,000 tons of plastic waste flowing into the ocean from Japan, artificial turf pile discharged into the ocean is 240 tons annually (provisional figure) and artificial turf filler discharged into the ocean is 540-2,700 tons. (“Estimation of the leakage amount of Plastic Litter into the Environment 2025” by Ministry of the Environment)
Artificial turf and turf filler made from Green Planet *White pellets are fillers
(Pictures provided by Mizuno)
