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 More Resources on Greener Playgrounds
Read and learn more about our approach on working with recycled materials in playground components.
"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 an 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 reduce carbon emissions by approximately 50% compared to products made from virgin materials.
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. Now, our playground components will be made with up to 95% recycled materials.
Bloqx™ Climbing
Bloqx™ climbing panels are made from 75% post‑consumer recycled waste, including household waste, helping reduce carbon emissions compared to panels made from virgin plastic. The teal color variant is made from 75% recycled ocean waste, such as fishing nets and ropes. Made Green.
Robinia Products
Robinia wood products come from responsible forestry, where planting and harvesting are carefully controlled. Thanks to its natural durability, Robinia does not require chemical wood preservatives. Robinia products are also available with FSC® certification (C004450). Born Green.
Rotomoulded Components
These coloured, rotationally moulded components, used in products such as the Supernova, Spinner Bowl, and Tipi Carousel, are made from 33% recycled waste, including household waste. The blue‑green version is made from recycled ocean waste. Made Green.
TexMade™ Posts
TexMade™ posts are made from >95% post‑consumer recycled textile and plastic waste and designed for long service life in demanding outdoor environments. Compared to traditional steel posts, TexMade™ posts reduce carbon emissions by 74% CO2e/kg, based on a comparison between a 1 m steel post (2 mm pipe thickness) and a 1 m TexMade™ post. Made Green.
Corocord™ Ropes with EcoYarn™
Tempered Corocord™ ropes are engineered for strength, abrasion resistance, and all‑weather durability. Each strand is tightly wrapped with EcoYarn™—made from >95% post‑consumer recycled material—that is melted onto the rope, increasing resistance to wear and vandalism. Available in multiple colors and diameters, with steel or fiber cores depending on rope thickness. Made Green.
Decks & Steps
Decks and steps in playground structures are made from 75% post‑consumer recycled material and designed for safety and durability in high‑traffic play areas. The moulded surface features a built‑in non‑slip texture that supports safe movement in all weather conditions while maintaining its integrity. 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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