SIS Pitches · Artificial Turf & Grass
Artificial Landscaping Turf 15ft Wide $2.09/sqft Artificial Turf
Skip until brand discloses coating chemistry and treatment details.
Artificial turf products typically receive water and stain treatments, often fluorinated. SIS Pitches provides no coating or PFAS disclosure, making risk assessment impossible.
The safe swap
Sportmaster
TrafficMaster Emerald Green Precut Turf Artificial Grass Rug
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its C.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polyethylene turf backing with unknown stain/water treatment 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
SIS Pitches artificial turf uses polyethylene (PE) fibers bonded to a polyethylene or polypropylene backing, a standard construction for sports and landscaping fields. The backing includes an unspecified water/stain treatment coating, which is the main uncertainty here. PE itself is stable when not heated, but coatings applied during manufacture can off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and water-repellent treatments sometimes include flame retardants or surfactants not listed on consumer-facing specs.
The brand's record and disclosure
SIS Pitches is a UK-based artificial pitch manufacturer primarily serving sports facilities and professional installations rather than direct consumer retail. The brand does not publish detailed chemical composition or coating ingredient lists in publicly available materials. No major safety recalls or contamination incidents are recorded for this product line, but the lack of proactive disclosure about synthetic treatment chemicals is a red flag for consumer scrutiny. Certifications like FIFA, World Rugby, or ISO 12235 focus on performance, not chemical safety transparency.
How it compares in its category
Artificial turf sits between synthetic carpet and outdoor polymer products in hazard profile. Unlike furniture foam, it does not typically contain legacy flame retardants like PBDE, but modern PE turf products often use newer brominated or phosphate flame retardant treatments to meet UK fire codes. Compared to natural grass or cheaper Chinese-sourced turf, SIS Pitches' professional-grade backing suggests better quality control, but also heavier chemical loading. Price point (2.09/sqft) places it mid-market, not budget or premium.
If you buy it
Request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or Technical Data Sheet (TDS) from your installer before purchase; reputable suppliers will provide coating chemistry. Ensure good drainage and air circulation during and after installation to minimize VOC concentration indoors or in poorly ventilated spaces. Replace if backing degrades, fibers shed excessively, or odor persists beyond 2-3 weeks (sign of off-gassing). Do not install in spaces where children under 3 spend extended time on bare backing without a moisture barrier.
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.”
VOC off-gassing from synthetic water/stain treatments
Polyethylene turf backing coatings (hydrophobic agents, UV stabilizers) can release volatile organics, especially in first 2-4 weeks post-installation. Scope depends on treatment type, which SIS Pitches does not disclose to consumers.
Flame retardant chemical residue in coatings
Modern artificial turf sold in the UK often meets fire codes via brominated or organophosphate flame retardants in backing treatments. No specific flame retardant class is disclosed for this product; legacy PBDEs are unlikely but newer halogenated compounds are plausible.
Microplastic shedding from fiber degradation
PE fibers in artificial turf shed microplastics over time, especially with UV exposure and foot traffic. While not a toxicological hazard from ingestion, accumulation in soil and drainage is an environmental concern; this is well documented across the artificial turf industry.
Heavy metals in pigments (if colored additives used)
Green artificial turf typically uses carbon black or organic dyes rather than heavy metal pigments, so cadmium or lead contamination is unlikely. No recalls or test failures are on record for SIS Pitches in this category.
Bacterial or fungal growth in poorly maintained backing
If drainage is inadequate or turf sits wet for extended periods, the porous PE backing can harbor mold or pathogenic bacteria. This is a maintenance and installation issue rather than an inherent material hazard, but relevant to health in damp climates.
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.
Safer alternatives in Artificial Turf & Grass
Sportmaster
TrafficMaster Emerald Green Precut Turf Artificial Grass Rug
polypropylene turf backing, polyethylene grass fibers
Lower concern; no known PFAS-prone features, but brand disclosure absent.
⚠Risky category by default
Sportmaster
Multi Sport Turf
synthetic turf (polyethylene/polypropylene fibers, infill material unspecified)
Insufficient disclosure. Synthetic turf infill composition unknown.
⚠Risky category by default
Sportmaster
Artificial Landscaping Turf | 15ft Wide | | Artificial Turf, Synthetic Grass for Landscaping, Garden, Yards, Fields | In
polyethylene or polypropylene synthetic fibers, backing adhesive unspecified
No PFAS disclosure. Synthetic turf backing adhesives often contain PFAS; verify with seller.
⚠Risky category by default
More artificial turf & 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.