Designing Greener Playgrounds
Addressing the Climate Crisis
"However vast nature may seem to us, nature also has limits. And more and more signs are telling us that we humans are crossing these limits."
– Henrik Damgaard, CEO KOMPAN
Park & Rec
We all know...
The urgency of the climate crisis calls for collective action. Traditional manufacturing methods contribute to environmental challenges. Our new playgrounds, crafted from recycled waste, are a step towards responsible production. By choosing options and materials with a greener profile, you actively participate in reducing carbon footprints, promoting a circular economy, and leaving a lasting impact on our planet.
Playground Design
Playgrounds as part of your strategy
Parks and Recreation are the heart of community engagement. Integrating greener playgrounds into your strategy fosters a vibrant environment for all and future generations. Our innovative solutions promote physical activity and contribute to a more responsible future, aligning with your commitment to community well-being.
Explore, learn, design: Greener playgrounds
Read and learn more about our approach on working with recycled materials in playground components.
The new look of a reduced carbon footprint
Architect Alexander Sundberg assures that TexMade™ posts and plastic alternatives, developed from textile waste and post-consumer sources, rival steel and plastic in durability. Playground solutions can be as colourful as your heart desires – but with a dramatically reduced carbon footprint.
New | Online magazine
Designing Greener Playgrounds
Welcome to the discussion on the ever-evolving landscape of playgrounds – an essential aspect of childhood development that now takes a turn towards responsible materials and practices.
In this magazine, we'll delve deeper into the specifics of these materials, exploring the benefits they bring to playground design and their positive influence on the overall environmental footprint of these spaces.
"It is nice that we have created something that is fun for the children and has a low carbon emission impact."
– Guido Orthen, Mayor of Bad Neuenarh-Ahrweiler
Born Green
Born Green means products are made from natural hardwoods like Robinia. Robinia is highly durable and does not require any chemical wood preservatives. KOMPAN Robinia products are also available with a FSC® certification (C004450).
Made Green
Made Green products are made of up to 95% post-consumer recycled materials: ocean waste, used textiles, used plastic bags, etc. Made Green products have approximately 50% reductions in carbon emissions compared to traditional products made from virgin sources.
Recycled raw materials
At KOMPAN, we know that approximately 80% of our carbon emissions come from our use of raw materials. So, this is where we've decided to act. Starting now, our playground components will be made with up to 95% recycled materials.
BLOQX Climbing
Using BLOQX™ panels made from 75% post-consumer recycled waste instead of virgin plastic reduces carbon emissions on the panels. BLOQX Climbing panels are made from 75% post-consumer recycled waste, e.g. household waste, and the Teal colour version is made from 75% ocean waste from the maritime industry like old fishing nets and ropes –
Robinia Products
Robinia wood products are the result of responsible forestry practices – where wood is bred for harvesting, and both planting and harvesting are carefully controlled. When using Robinia, you do not need to use any chemical wood preservatives. Robinia products are also available with FSC® certification (C004450) – Born Green.
Rotomoulded Components
These coloured, rotationally moulded components – used for the Supernova, Spinner Bowl, Tipi Carousel, and various other products – are made from 33% recycled waste, e.g. household waste. The blue-green version specifically is made from recycled ocean waste – Made Green.
Extruded Aluminum
Extruded aluminum profiles are made using low-carbon aluminum. Using these low-carbon aluminum profiles – produced with renewable energy sources instead of using aluminum profiles made with traditional energy sources – reduces carbon emissions – Made Green.
If you want to learn more about our materials, follow the link below.
TexMade™ Posts
Our highly durable, innovative TexMade™ posts are made from >95% post-consumer recycled textile and plastic waste. Using TexMade™ posts made from >95% post-consumer recycled textile and plastic waste instead of steel posts reduces carbon emissions by 74% CO2e/kg when comparing 1m steel post (2mm pipe thickness) to 1m TexMade™ post – Made Green.
Tempered Corocord Rope with EcoYarn™
Our Corocord ropes are designed for optimal strength, abrasion resistance and all-weather durability. These ropes are made to withstand vandalism, ensuring longevity and safety in various environments. The ropes are tightly wrapped with EcoYarn™ in >95% post-consumer recycled material, which is melted onto each individual strand. This process enhances the rope’s durability and significantly reduces waste. Corocord ropes are available in eight colours and six dimensions (7mm, 16mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm, and 23mm) and cater to different needs while maintaining their environmental benefits. Depending on the size, the ropes have either a steel or fibre core, ensuring optimal application performance — Made Green.
Decks & Steps
Decks in playground structures are made from 75% post-consumer recycled waste – Made Green.
Q&A on recycled materials
All recycled qualities are better to use if the alternative is using new/virgin material. However, when choosing between a post-industrial or a post-consumer quality, the post-consumer type saves much more CO2e. It is a harder job to use post-consumer qualities. With post-consumer qualities, you must collect, sort, and clean the waste before it can be used again. But the material is saved and can be used again, saving the environment from new/virgin material entering our world and preventing the waste from going into the waste incineration or landfill.
KOMPAN is using narrower post-consumer waste streams, like used textiles, fishing nets, and food packaging post-consumer waste. We can control the quality better than if we used very broad waste. The household waste can be a mix of many different sources.
We only use suppliers with the highest quality standards. It is very important that the waste comes from high-quality suppliers. We have a close connection to our suppliers, visiting them regularly. We are also running tests of all materials we are using to ensure high quality. We do not compromise our high quality and safety standards; they fully apply also to our recycled material qualities.
The Ocean waste we use in our products originates from Europa and the Arctic oceans. It is based on post-consumer streams collected from the maritime industry, such as fishing nets, ropes and trawls.
UV protection is added to all our recycled qualities. Some of our post-consumer recycled materials have no added colour pigment; they are the natural colour from e.g. fishing nets. The colour may vary. We only add UV protection and keep the natural colour from, e.g., the fishing nets.
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