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.
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 colorful as your heart desires—but with a dramatically reduced carbon footprint.
Designing Greener Playgrounds
In a world where no product is impact‑free, honest communication and continuous improvement are the most sustainable choices we can make—for playgrounds, for communities, and for future generations.
In this brochure, you can read more about how you can play your part by making greener playground choices.
"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
Replacement of Raw Materials
We continuously work to reduce our usage of raw materials by replacing them with recycled materials that emit fewer carbon emissions. We utilize a two-way approach: Made Green and Born Green.
Born Green
means that the products are made from natural hardwood, such as robinia. Robinia is very durable and has natural protection against rot and fungus, so it does not require chemical wood preservatives. It is a fast-growing tree that is found in Eastern Europe. KOMPAN Robinia products comply with EUDR requirements and can be supplied with FSC® certification (C004450).
Made Green
products are made from materials with at least 51%—and up to 95%—post-consumer recycled materials, such as recycled fishing nets, used textiles, food packaging, used plastic bags, etc. In producing KOMPAN Made Green products, we work purposefully to continually increase the proportion of recycled materials. The process and improvements are well documented, and the products are third-party verified.
Built to Last
Highest Quality Materials
CircularHDPE Panels
Our 19mm CircularHDPE panels are made from responsible materials that are not only recyclable after use but also made from >95% post-consumer recycled waste.
UV-protected colored outer layers
Highly durable in any environment
Supported by a lifetime warranty
Decks & Steps
All of our equipment decks are supported by uniquely designed, low-carbon aluminum profiles with multiple attachment options, increasing their strength. Our grey-colored molded decks and steps are made from 75% post-consumer recycled polypropylene material with a non-skid pattern and textured surface.
Tempered Corocord™ Rope with CircularYarn
Ropes are constructed from six galvanized steel strands, each coated with CircularYarn made from more than 95% post-consumer recycled material. Melted directly onto every strand, the yarn creates a highly wear-resistant and vandal-resistant surface. The strands are then wrapped around a steel core for exceptional strength, durability, and long-term performance.
Galvanized steel
Our steel surfaces and steel frames are hot-dip galvanized inside and out with lead-free zinc. The galvanization provides excellent corrosion resistance in outdoor environments and is maintenance-free.
Roto-Molded Items (e.g., Slides and Seats)
Our molded plastic items are made from 33% post-consumer recycled material in all colors. The teal-colored items are made from recycled fishing nets from the maritime industry. All items are molded in one piece, providing strength and minimizing weakness caused by joints.
Robinia wood
Robinia wood is an exceptionally strong and long-lasting material with a very high level of natural oils. Thus, robinia wood makes durable playgrounds that are close to maintenance free and able to last for many years. KOMPAN robinia products can come with FSC®-certification (FSC C004450).
Posts
Main posts are available in five different materials:
Impregnated pine wood with an in-ground steel footing
Galvanized steel with a powder-coated top finish
Color-anodized, lead-free low-carbon aluminum,
TexMade™ posts made from >95% post-consumer recycled textile and plastic waste
Low-carbon, pre-galvanized steel posts made from 80% post-consumer recycled material
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 color pigment; they are the natural color from e.g. fishing nets. The color may vary. We only add UV protection and keep the natural color from, e.g., the fishing nets.
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