European Commission Targets Synthetic Turf Providers in Major Recycling Cartel Probe
The European Commission has issued Statements of Objections to several major synthetic turf companies, accusing them of breaching EU antitrust rules. The Commission suspects the firms colluded to distort competition for sports pitches in Germany and the Netherlands, potentially violating Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
In the Netherlands, the Commission targets producers and installers Oranjewoud, TenCate Grass, and Sports & Leisure Group. Investigators state that since 2019, these companies used their joint recycling venture, GBN-AGR, to restrict competition. The firms allegedly agreed to exclusively use GBN-AGR, fixed its prices to avoid competing with one another, and actively worked to exclude rival recycling and sustainable disposal services. The Commission claims these actions aimed to monopolize the recycling market while securing the companies’ dominant positions in installing and replacing synthetic turf. Domo Sports Grass Nederland, a 2025 spinoff from Sports & Leisure Group, also received the objection.
In Germany, the investigation focuses on Oranjewoud and Sport Group. The Commission alleges that between 2020 and 2023, the two companies engaged in anticompetitive conduct while discussing a potential partnership. Without proper safeguards, they exchanged confidential strategic information regarding future prices and production capacities. Furthermore, the Commission claims the companies fixed the “gate fee”—the primary price element for recycling end-of-life turf in Germany.
Synthetic turf is widely used by municipalities and public bodies for hockey and football pitches. Because public tenders require installers to remove and dispose of old turf, disposal costs serve as a vital competitive factor. The EU turf industry is currently shifting toward recycling to foster a circular economy.
The Commission previously conducted unannounced inspections in June 2023. This formal warning does not prejudge the final outcome of the investigation.