Playtop Limited, the impact-absorbing surfacing specialist, has completed its first installation incorporating Nike Grind rubber. The installation, at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United Football Club, consisted of laying a perimeter track around the pitch of 955m2 of Playtop® impact-absorbing surfacing. Playtop® was also installed in the players’ tunnel and included the Club’s logo within the surface.
Playtop Limited signed an exclusive agreement with Nike earlier in the year to include Nike Grind rubber into all of its black surfacing, to which it gives an attractive speckled effect usually only achieved by purchasing different coloured granules. Not only is this more visually attractive but it will be available at the same cost as Playtop’s standard black surface. Old Trafford was a slight exception with the surfacing being predominantly red (naturally!).
Nike Grind rubber is the material created when old trainers/sports shoes are recycled and granulated, the end result of Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe programme. This initiative is part of Nike’s commitment to corporate responsibility and involves the collection of old sports shoes (of any brand) from collection points across the UK. These shoes are then recycled to create a rubber granulate called Nike Grind rubber, which Playtop incorporates into its wet-pour surfacing. One of Nike’s collection partners is Manchester United Football Club. It has collection points around the stadium and the Club encourages fans to recycle their old trainers.
The Club is delighted with its new pitch surround and players tunnel. Facilities Manager at Old Trafford is Alan Bird: “The resilience and rapid drainage of Playtop® make it ideal for this purpose. It’s comfortable and hardwearing, and looks good too. The company was a delight to work with and we are over the moon with the new surfacing.”
Playtop is now working with several other Premiership clubs on similar projects.
More information about Nike’s environmental initiatives can be found at www.nikeresponsibility.com
|
Home
