The University of Edinburgh has announced that the world's first climate-neutral, ISCC-certified hockey field is officially ready for play.

The first climate-neutral hockey turf

The Olympic-designed hockey turf, Poligras Paris GT zero, was installed in Edinburgh, Scotland, making the Peffermill facility a state-of-the-art training location. Poligras Paris GT zero is the world's first climate-neutral hockey surface and has received the FIH innovation certification for waterless play. Polytan's Poligras Paris GT zero saves 73 tons of CO₂ compared to conventional hockey fields. It is made of 80% bio-based fiber material, features a CO₂-optimized backing, and is produced in Germany using green energy, resulting in a climate-neutral product. By meeting FIH innovation standards, the turf is suitable for dry play but can still be used wet for elite competitions such as the Olympics. This versatile 'play wet/play dry' design benefits hockey clubs worldwide, as they can choose a climate-neutral, Olympic-standard turf that offers better playability when dry compared to sand-filled fields—a unique feature of the Poligras Paris GT zero system. Chris McIntosh, Head of Sports Infrastructure and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh, said, 'We are delighted with the installation of the new Polytan turf in Peffermill. At the university, we place a high value on performance standards and now provide our players with a world-class playing surface. We are always looking to enhance our facilities to support our students, and I look forward to seeing progress in the coming months and years.' Ashley Appleby, Sales Manager at Polytan, stated, 'Our "FIH Innovation Category Dry Turf Hockey Field" is a milestone in sustainable hockey, as large amounts of water were previously required for professional play. With our sustainable system and Polytan's Turf Glide Technology, the field ensures unmatched ball speed, enhanced player safety, and significantly reduced water consumption.' Sarah Robertson, a former university student who represented Team GB at the 2024 Paris Olympics, shared her excitement: 'It is fantastic to see the work done over the summer at Peffermill on the new hockey surface. I had the pleasure of playing on the same Polytan surface while competing for Team GB in Paris, and it was exceptional. It's amazing to see hockey contributing to sustainable sports while maintaining top-quality fields.'