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SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X

May 18, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X™ A new high-performance, 100% biodegradable fiber has been launched to help better manage end-of-life solutions for hybrid sports pitches. Bio-X™ is a revolutionary hybrid fiber introduced by international sports surface specialist SIS Pitches to deliver true circularity for forward-thinking clubs and venues. Its unique formulation blends different state-of-the-art core components derived […]

BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce

May 18, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is inviting businesses across the turf and golf industries to support the future of the profession by becoming Friends of First Green. Friends of First Green is a donation-led initiative designed to help BIGGA continue to […]

SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X

May 18, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce

May 18, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X

May 18, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X™

A new high-performance, 100% biodegradable fiber has been launched to help better manage end-of-life solutions for hybrid sports pitches.

SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X™

Bio-X™ is a revolutionary hybrid fiber introduced by international sports surface specialist SIS Pitches to deliver true circularity for forward-thinking clubs and venues. Its unique formulation blends different state-of-the-art core components derived from natural sources to create a fiber with the strength, durability and flexibility needed to reinforce high-impact sports pitches, while also being designed to biodegrade through industrial decomposition at the end of its natural life.

The formulation of Bio-X™ has a patent pending and results from the trial of over 80 formulations across seven different countries. The result is a fiber engineered to meet the demands of world class sport, including professional soccer, football, golf, tennis and cricket. Like conventional fossil-based polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene-based hybrid fibres, Bio-X™ is designed to offer a durable playing surface that recovers quickly from intensive use. The fiber also ensures consistent performance for play but with the standout benefit of being biodegradable.

Each time a hybrid sports pitch is replaced, several tonnes of plastic fiber are removed from the surface – material that is costly, difficult to process and recycle and often ends up in landfill, where it can remain for decades. SIS Pitches’ Bio‑X™ Fiber tackles this problem head‑on by giving forward‑thinking clubs and venues a 100% biodegradable alternative that is fully traceable from manufacture to disposal.

Engineered to behave like traditional thermoplastics and certified for industrial composting, Bio-X™ offers a seamless transition to sustainable hybrid pitch, with no persistent microplastics remaining after disposal. This is a key advantage for clubs and venues subject to increasingly strict ESG reporting and compliance.

Bio-X™ is made using a proprietary blend of ingredients derived from corn and sugarcane plant sugars, as well as bacteria, which are converted into high-performance biopolymers, all of which meet the world’s most stringent safety standards, including FDA Food Contact approval. Pigmentation, UV stability and ease of processing are enhanced through the addition of a unique biodegradable masterbatch, which is added to the formulation prior to extrusion through specialised machinery.

Crucially for clubs and facility owners, Bio-X™ integrates seamlessly into existing hybrid installation processes, with no extra specialist equipment required. The same applies to ongoing pitch maintenance, which can also be carried out with no change to the established routines applied to polyethylene or polypropylene-based hybrid pitches.

To validate the product, Bio-X™ has undergone rigorous independent testing by specialist labs which confirmed comparable strength and stability over an extended period to the standard, non-biodegradable polyethylene fibres currently used within the sports turf market. The new state-of-the-art fibre also has TÜV AUSTRIA OK Biobased certification to independently verify that the product is bio-based, while TÜV AUSTRIA OK Compost INDUSTRIAL certification is pending and will verify that the product is has been tested to achieve 99.9% degradation through composting within 12 weeks.

Bio-X fibers can be processed with green waste – without the need to separate – via industrial composting, which is widely available in most major cities and towns. This means Bio-X™ can lower pitch disposal costs at the time of replacement while providing a more convenient and more sustainable end-of-life option.

Ivo Lamot, CEO at SIS Pitches said: “Environmental sustainability has been central to many of the commitments we make as a business, from reducing our factories’ energy consumption to recycling replacement pitches. We’re acutely aware of the role we can play in reducing the impact sport can have on the natural environment too, which is where Bio-X™ can really make a significant impact.

“This latest innovation gives forward-thinking clubs and facility owners a truly circular alternative to conventional hybrid fibres, which have been considered the only viable option since the technology became a standard for clubs and venues.

“We’ve been meticulous in ensuring Bio-X™ is derived from the optimum blend of natural products yet require no change to standard installation or maintenance best practice. In introducing Bio-X™, we’re showing how even elite level sport can be played to the highest standard, but on a surface that leaves no persistent microplastics or forever chemicals at the end of its natural life.”

Bio-X™ is currently installed at multiple sporting venues around the world including the San Francisco 49ers training facility and global consultancy STRI’s testing facility in Bingley, West Yorkshire.

For more information on SIS Pitches, visit www.sispitches.com/bio-x

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BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce

May 18, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce

The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is inviting businesses across the turf and golf industries to support the future of the profession by becoming Friends of First Green.

BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce

Friends of First Green is a donation-led initiative designed to help BIGGA continue to grow First Green, the environmental science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education outreach programme that turns golf courses into outdoor classrooms.

Licensed by BIGGA with the kind permission of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and its Foundation, First Green enables greenkeeping teams to host guided field trips for schools, giving young people hands-on learning experiences linked to soil science, ecology, water quality, machinery, problem-solving and the wider role of golf clubs within their communities.

The initiative is delivered free of charge to schools, helping ensure young people from a wide range of backgrounds can discover the skills, science and career opportunities involved in greenkeeping.

BIGGA is now inviting businesses to become Friends of First Green through an annual donation, with a suggested contribution of £500. Support from Friends will help BIGGA reach more schools, provide educational materials and resources, fund school transport bursaries, support clubs and volunteers delivering First Green events and expand outreach at careers and training events.

The first business to join the scheme is Siems Turfgrass Ltd, led by Ken Siems, whose support marks an important step in the growth of the initiative.

Jenny Bledge, BIGGA Workforce Project Manager, said: “Initiatives like First Green are so important for the future of our industry. If we want to continue attracting the next generation into greenkeeping and golf course management, we need to give young people the opportunity to see the wide range of skills, technology and career pathways our industry offers. Reaching both primary and secondary school pupils helps us spark that interest early and continue building it as they grow.

“Support through Friends of First Green will play a huge role in helping us make these opportunities accessible to as many young people as possible, regardless of background. Donations and support will help us continue developing resources, supporting hosting facilities and removing barriers that may prevent schools and young people from taking part.

“We are incredibly grateful to Ken Siems and Siems Turfgrass Ltd for becoming our first Friend of First Green and supporting the future of the profession in such a positive and meaningful way.”

Friends of First Green will be recognised equally through a listing on the Friends of First Green webpage, a digital ‘I’m a Friend of First Green’ badge and inclusion in BIGGA’s annual acknowledgement list.

Businesses interested in becoming a Friend of First Green can contact firstgreen@bigga.co.uk or visit the Friends of First Green page on the BIGGA website.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X

BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce

SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X

BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X

SIS Pitches Unveils Bio-X™

BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce

BIGGA launches Friends of First Green to support future greenkeeping workforce

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