Artificial Grass Girl

 Sustainability....it's the new buzz word in "green" terminology.  I'm hearing it everywhere....from restaurants, grocery stores,  to economic reports, and politicians.  To be sustainable means to be able to use the resources available to us without harming our current environment or the environment of future generations.  A sustainable world, says World Bank economist Herman Daly, would not use renewable resources (forests, soils, waters, fish and game) faster than they are replenished. It wouldn't use nonrenewable resources (fossil fuels, mineral ores) faster than renewable substitutes can be found for them. Green households aim to be self-sustained; to keep a low carbon footprint.  This can be accomplished by growing your own fruit and vegetables, driving low-emission vehicles, composting, recycling, etc.  We can also increase our sustainability by installing artificial grass in our yards.

So how are artificial grass lawns sustainable?
1.  To begin with, artificial grass is made from recycled products.  Polypropylene, Polyethylene and Nylon are the major polymers used to produce synthetic turf.  These can be recycled from a variety of plastic products.  And 20 years later, when it is time to replace the lawn, the artificial grass can be recycled again into another polymer product.
2.  Water Conservation - it is estimated that most artificial grass lawns will pay for themselves within 3 years via water conservation.  Continued drought conditions in large parts of the country make artificial grass lawns an environmentally important option for homeowners and municipalities.  Artificial grass lawns save millions of gallons of water each year.  Sustainability begins my eliminating waste.
3.  Poison - Also, the water supply is not polluted by the fertilizers and pesticides we add to a natural grass lawn to keep it "healthy".  On top of that, the emissions and pollution created from lawnmowers and weed-wackers are eliminated from synthetic turf lawns.

Sustainability is a goal we should all aim for.  Installing artificial grass will not save the planet but it is one way of decreasing our impact on future generations.