KOMPAN uses up to 95% recycled materials in playground equipment

Industry-leading playground equipment manufacture KOMPAN has announced that its entire range of playground materials uses up to 95% recycled materials – meaning customers can create stunning playgrounds of all colours and styles while reducing their carbon footprint.

KOMPAN has been leading the way in sustainable playground equipment since the announcement of its innovative and award-winning GreenLine range in 2022.

Using reclaimed ocean waste like trawl nets and ropes to create play panels and discarded textile waste and single-use plastics to create playground posts, this range allowed local government parks teams, landscape architects and schools to drastically reduce their carbon footprint when building playgrounds.

Alexander Sundberg, Architect MAA and Solution Design Manager at KOMPAN notes “design freedom and increased sustainability are not mutually exclusive; they go hand in hand. Our playground solutions can be as colourful as your heart desires - but with a dramatically reduced carbon footprint.”

The following are the updates on each material used in KOMPAN products:

• HDPE panels in the full suite of colours are now >95% recycled (previously the recycled option was only available in a single colour)

• TexMade™ posts remain >95% recycled

• Ropes are now wrapped with PES yarn, which is >95% recycled (previously they were solely made from virgin materials)

• Rotomoulded components in the full suite of colours are now 33% recycled (previously only 25% recycled in a single colour)

• BLOQX™ panels in the full suite of colours are now 75% recycled (previously the recycled option was only available in a single colour)

• Decks remain 75% recycled

• Extruded aluminium profiles remain sourced from low-carbon suppliers

• Robinia products remain sustainably forested, FSC-certified and extremely durable

Studies found that 80% of carbon emissions for a playground company like KOMPAN come from raw material production. KOMPAN therefore took the most efficient step to pass on carbon savings to customers and drastically improve their Scope 3 emissions by rethinking their materials and moving to recycled sources.

All of KOMPAN’s carbon calculation methods for their products and materials are independently verified by Bureau Veritas – meaning customers can comfortably rely on them for supply chain reporting.

Tomas Riegels-Jørgensen, Business Developer Sustainability at Bureau Veritas highlighted KOMPAN’s above-and-beyond approach to carbon emission reporting and data resources for their customers.

Riegels-Jørgensen explained “KOMPAN includes the entire value chain from cradle to gate, which refers to the carbon impact of the product from the moment it’s produced to the moment it’s ready for sale. It’s complex and still unique to make calculations at such a detailed level, and it has required a lot of heavy lifting to achieve.”

A dedication to manufacturing innovation forms part of KOMPAN’s mission to be the greenest option for playgrounds, and they are proud to say that the majority of their playground product line uses recycled materials or low-carbon Robinia timber to ensure that their customers are making the best choice for their sustainability goals, no matter their aesthetic needs.

KOMPAN Chief Executive, Henrik Damgaard concluded “we are not satisfied with merely developing products; we aim to create the playgrounds of the future, where increased sustainability is an integral part of every swing, slide and climbing frame.”

When reviewing and choosing KOMPAN playground products, customers can find the verified CO2e footprint information in the product sheets, which are ready to download on the company's website.

Designers interested in learning more can visit www.kompan.com/en/au/greener-playgrounds

Click here to contact Kompan through their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.