Realgrass · Artificial Turf & Synthetic Grass
Style Selections Artificial Grass
Lower concern, but verify Realgrass PFAS stance before purchase.
Artificial grass typically uses polyethylene or polypropylene with no standard PFAS requirement. Realgrass has not publicly disclosed PFAS testing or claims. Contact brand for transparency on backing treatments and coatings.
Shop Realgrass on Amazon →Material
polyethylene plastic grass blades, polypropylene or latex backing
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
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
Style Selections artificial grass uses polyethylene plastic for the blade fibers and polypropylene or latex for the backing. Polyethylene itself is chemically inert under normal use conditions, but the backing materials and any coatings applied during manufacturing may contain additives or flame retardants. The product is not designed for food contact or ingestion, so leaching into food is not a concern, but microplastic shedding from weathering and foot traffic is a potential environmental release pathway.
The brand's record and disclosure
Realgrass (Style Selections is a Home Depot brand) has not published detailed ingredient disclosures or third-party certifications for artificial turf products in publicly available sources. The brand has not taken a public stance on PFAS in their artificial grass products, despite PFAS being documented in some artificial turf formulations across the industry. Without active transparency, consumers cannot verify whether the backing or UV stabilizers contain PFAS or other restricted substances.
How it compares in its category
Artificial grass sits between natural grass (zero plastic shedding but high water use) and concrete (no material off-gassing). Industry data shows some competitors (notably FieldTurf and other professional-grade brands) publish PFAS and flame retardant disclosure statements; Realgrass does not, placing it below transparency leaders. The material class itself (polyethylene) is less hazardous than vinyl flooring or some rubberized turf infills, but shedding risk is higher than ceramic or composite alternatives.
If you buy it
Install with permeable backing or drainage layer to prevent waterlogging and algal or bacterial growth underneath, which can create mold risk. Avoid installing where young children will mouth the fibers, and rinse hands after handling during installation. Expect gradual color fading and fiber degradation after 5-10 years depending on UV exposure and foot traffic; do not assume it is maintenance-free. Do not burn or incinerate scraps; dispose as regular waste.
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.”
Microplastic shedding
Polyethylene fibers degrade under UV exposure and foot traffic, releasing small plastic particles into soil and groundwater. This is an environmental hazard rather than direct consumer exposure, but meaningful over the product's lifetime.
Bacterial or algal growth in drainage layer
If backing or subsurface moisture traps water without proper drainage, anaerobic bacterial colonies or mold can develop underneath, creating odor and potential health risk if the area is frequented by children or pets. Proper installation with drainage mitigation reduces this risk significantly.
Flame retardants in backing or coatings
No public testing or recall documents specific flame retardant use in Style Selections artificial grass. However, some artificial turf products do contain brominated or phosphorus-based flame retardants in the backing; Realgrass has not disclosed whether their formulation includes these.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing during installation
Fresh artificial turf may emit odors associated with adhesives, latex backing, or off-gassing of volatile compounds during the first weeks after installation, particularly in warm weather. Ventilation during and after installation mitigates this; no long-term off-gassing is expected.
Heavy metal stabilizers in plastic formulation
Polyethylene UV stabilizers can include cadmium or lead salts in lower-cost formulations. No public test data exists for Style Selections specifically; manufacturers typically use less hazardous stabilizers (zinc or hindered amine types) in consumer products, but verification is not available.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 68% 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.
More artificial turf & synthetic grass grades
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.