A Life Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Playground Surfacing Options

By Beth Rush

Playgrounds are essential spaces for children’s growth and development. What if there’s a way to make them more sustainable and safer for the planet? Explore sustainable playground surfacing options and their eco-conscious life cycles.

Engineered Wood Fiber 

Engineered wood fiber (EWF) is a type of composite mulch made from natural wood fibers. It’s cost-effective and easy to install, making it a popular, sustainable choice. When produced and installed correctly, EWF is stable enough to absorb shock when kids fall and provides hassle-free wheelchair access.

The level of sustainability of this surface depends on the material’s sourcing. Environmentally friendly brands often use recycled sources like construction waste, pallets, softwood, and hardwood. The wood is then processed to create uniform fibrous particles through chipping and screening, which requires energy.

The wood fibers settle to create a compacted surface so wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers can roll over it easily. The installation process requires minimal specialized equipment, making it an energy-efficient option.

EWF can be composted or used as mulch at the end of its life, returning it to the planet. Disposal can be more complicated if you’re using treated wood.

Advantages of EWF:

• Meets the basic requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) safety standards
• Compostable 
• Water-absorbent
• Cheap initial installation cost 

Disadvantages of EWF:

• It may require deforestation if new wooden materials are used
• Requires regular maintenance
• It needs to be replaced over time

Recycled Rubber Safety Tiles

Rubber safety tiles are usually made from recycled tires, making them environmentally friendly. The material may come in shredded form—like EWF—or as interlocking tiles. Rubbers are highly customizable, and you can choose colors, combinations, and patterns.

Discarded tires are filling landfills. If improperly managed, they can serve as habitats for disease-carrying insects, like mosquitoes. Companies that produce recycled rubber tiles turn old tires into rubber powder, which is melted and baked into mats. 

While recycled rubber tiles provide proper cushioning for playgrounds, their end-of-life options are limited. Playground surfaces can become contaminated with debris, dirt, and other materials, which may complicate recycling. Moreover, natural degradation via UV exposure and wear and tear can make it more difficult to recycle this surface.

Advantages of recycled rubber safety tiles:

• Diverts tires from landfills
• Durable
• Low-maintenance

Disadvantages of recycled rubber safety tiles:

• Flammable  
• Prone to moisture damage at the seams, allowing moisture penetration into the subfloor

Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is a loose-filled surface of small, polished, round pebbles. Depending on their source, these pebbles can be translucent or come in various colors, such as gray, white, and rust-brown. Pea gravel is a raw material without synthetic chemicals.

This material naturally occurs near rivers and streams, where the constant flow of water has worn down larger rocks into distinctive pebbles. A dredge is placed in the lake to pull the pebbles from the pit.

However, this method can damage seabed habitats, leading to the loss of marine life. Once pea gravel reaches the end of its usefulness as a playground surface, it can be used for other landscaping projects, like building flower beds.

Advantages of pea gravel:

• Natural material
• Simple to install
• Cost-effective

Disadvantages of pea gravel:

• Requires regular inspection for foreign objects
• It may be challenging for people with disabilities to navigate

Sand

Sand is one of the most cost-effective, sustainable playground surfacing options. Its smooth and soft texture can protect kids from falls and reduce injuries. Like pea gravel, sand is extracted through dredging.

The material is fed into a washing tank to remove impurities and then onto a dewatering screen. Sand is easy to install but requires regular raking and maintenance to remove bugs, weeds, and other objects that may potentially hurt kids.

Used sand can be repurposed in various areas, such as school grounds. It can also function as a base layer for a new surfacing material. 

Advantages of sand:

• Cost-effective 
• Simple to install

Disadvantages of sand:

• It may be challenging for people with disabilities to navigate
• Extraction may damage marine life

Artificial Turf

This surfacing option is an excellent alternative to natural grass. It doesn’t require extensive maintenance and adds a vibrant appearance to any playground, making it more visually appealing.

Artificial turf is made from polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyamide. It can be manufactured with sustainable cushioning materials like cork, wood fiber, and coconut fiber. With proper maintenance, it lasts eight to ten years, after which it’s disposed of in a landfill.

Artificial turf can contain potentially harmful chemicals. Crumb rubber is a popular option for infill, but it may contain carcinogens like volatile organic compounds, lead, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

Advantages of artificial turf:

• It can be made of recycled content
• Low maintenance

Disadvantages of artificial turf:

• Requires professional installation
• Difficult to recycle

Considerations for Choosing the Right Playground Surfacing Option

The following factors are most important when choosing the best sustainable playground surfacing material.  

Safety Compliance 

In the U.S., more than 205,000 children under the age of 16 get injured on a playground, and the majority of cases involve unsafe surfacing. Playground surfacing manufacturers should comply with the following organization’s standards:

• ADA 
• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) 
• International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) 
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Generally, a playground surface must be 12 inches thick to minimize injuries from trips and falls. Consider materials that promote inclusivity and meet the ADA’s accessibility standards so people with disabilities can also use playground equipment.

Transportation

Transportation accounts for 28% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce your carbon footprint, evaluate the transportation process of the surfacing material and opt for local suppliers. 

Maintenance 

Consider the surface’s long-term maintenance needs, including professional cleaning, repairs, and replacement. Choose a surface that requires minimal maintenance but provides maximum durability.

End-of-Life Options

Select a surface that you can recycle or repurpose for other projects. If recycling is not feasible, consider biodegradable materials to ensure the surface will decompose safely.

The Future of Play Is Green

These surface options are key to creating a playground that’s safe for the kids and Mother Nature. This life cycle assessment should help you decide which one is best for everyone’s safety.

About the author: Beth Rush is the green wellness editor at Body+Mind, where she covers topics like the power of climate consciousness at all stages of education. You can find Beth on Twitter @bodymindmag. Subscribe to Body+Mind for more posts by Beth!