Act Global · Artificial Turf & Synthetic Grass
TrafficMaster Heavyweight Emerald Green Artificial Grass Turf
Skip until coating composition disclosed; synthetic turf often uses water-repellent coating treatments.
Artificial grass typically requires water-resistant coatings, but Act Global provides no chemical disclosure. Waterproofing treatments on synthetics frequently contain PFAS; lack of transparency raises concern.
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Material
polypropylene/polyethylene base with unknown water/stain-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
furniture is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
TrafficMaster Heavyweight uses a polypropylene or polyethylene-blend backing with synthetic fiber face (typically polypropylene or polyethylene yarn). The critical unknown is the coating applied for water and stain resistance; these coatings in synthetic turf commonly use water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatments, many of which historically contained PFAS compounds like PFOA or its replacements. The base polymers themselves are not inherently hazardous when unheated, but the coating composition directly determines off-gassing risk and leaching potential into soil or water during outdoor installation.
The brand's record and disclosure
Act Global (TrafficMaster's parent) has not publicly disclosed the specific water-resistant coating chemistry or made binding commitments to PFAS-free formulations. No major safety recalls or certifications (e.g., GreenGuard, Cradle to Cradle) are documented for this specific product line. The silence on coating ingredients is the primary gap; responsible synthetic turf makers increasingly publish third-party test results or certifications excluding PFAS, which TrafficMaster has not done.
How it compares in its category
Synthetic turf as a category sits in a gray zone: it avoids pesticide/fertilizer hazards of real grass but introduces polymer off-gassing and coating questions. TrafficMaster is a mass-market, budget-friendly option; premium competitors (e.g., some brands sold through landscape supply houses) more often publish PFAS test results or use PFAS-free coatings. Budget-tier artificial grass typically lacks this transparency, making TrafficMaster representative of the lower-disclosure end of the market.
If you buy it
Request the safety data sheet (SDS) for the coating from the seller or manufacturer; if unavailable, that is a red flag suggesting the coating composition is proprietary or unstandardized. Installation outdoors on permeable substrate (not directly on soil that drains into groundwater) reduces leaching concern but does not eliminate off-gassing of volatile coating components in heat. Do not install in direct contact with drinking water sources or vegetable gardens. Monitor for fiber shedding or coating degradation over 5-10 years, especially in high-UV or salt-spray environments, as breakdown may accelerate leaching.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating, likely PFAS-containing
Synthetic turf industry standard is to apply water-repellent coating finishes; historical products used PFAS, and many current formulations do as well. Act Global has not disclosed whether TrafficMaster uses legacy PFAS, Gen-X replacements, or PFAS-free alternatives. This is the dominant unknown hazard.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from backing or adhesives
Polypropylene and polyethylene backings with synthetic adhesives can emit small amounts of VOCs, especially in warm weather or direct sun. Outdoor installation mitigates exposure, but off-gassing may persist for weeks to months after installation.
Microplastic shedding from fiber wear
Artificial grass fibers degrade over time, particularly under foot traffic or UV exposure, shedding microplastics into surrounding soil and water. TrafficMaster is not uniquely prone, but the issue is documented across the category and should be managed via regular vacuuming and proper drainage containment.
Heavy metal contamination in colorant or pigments
No recalls or public reports of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in TrafficMaster artificial grass. Emerald green dyes are typically azo-based polymeric colorants with low bioavailability, but testing data specific to this product has not been published.
Flame retardant treatments in backing
Some artificial turf backings include flame retardants to meet indoor or commercial flammability codes, though outdoor residential products are less commonly treated. Act Global has not disclosed whether TrafficMaster uses flame retardants; if applied, these are typically brominated or phosphorus-based and may leach in wet conditions.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
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How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.