BASF and Hagihara Industries Develop UV-Resistant Turf Installed at J-League Field

Yusuke Utaka (left) of Hagihara Industries and Dai Watanabe (right) of BASF Japan, avid football fans, kick back on the synthetic turf field enhanced with BASF’s Tinuvin®.
Photo: BASF SE

(IN BRIEF) BASF and Hagihara Industries have jointly developed an advanced formulation of Tinuvin® UV stabilizers to produce highly durable polyolefin yarns for artificial turf, improving resistance to sunlight and weather. The enhanced turf, which now boasts a lifespan of up to 10 years, has been successfully installed at the J-League Fagiano Okayama football club’s practice field. This collaboration demonstrates BASF’s commitment to customer-oriented innovation and its expertise in delivering high-performance solutions for demanding outdoor applications beyond synthetic grass.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUDWIGSHAFEN, 22-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Hagihara Industries, Inc., a top synthetic fiber manufacturer in Japan, has partnered with global chemical leader BASF to develop advanced polyolefin yarns that dramatically enhance the weather resistance of artificial turf. After three years of joint research and development, the companies unveiled a custom formulation using multiple Tinuvin® light stabilizers, designed to preserve turf quality and appearance in the face of sun and weather exposure.

Artificial turf made using this innovative solution has already been installed at the Fagiano Okayama football club’s practice field in Okayama Prefecture, earning praise for its impressive durability and vibrant look. The specially engineered yarns can now withstand harsh environmental conditions, helping maintain both mechanical strength and color fidelity for up to a decade.

“One of the critical challenges in artificial grass production is safeguarding it against prolonged UV exposure and fluctuating weather,” explained Norio Funakoshi, Chief of the Fundamental Research Section at Hagihara Industries. “We sought to meet rising customer expectations for long-lasting turf, and BASF provided the expertise and additive combination that addressed this challenge effectively.”

BASF’s Tinuvin® series of light stabilizers work by transforming damaging UV radiation into harmless heat energy, shielding polymer chains from degradation and helping extend the service life of outdoor plastic applications. These stabilizers are vital for products frequently exposed to sunlight, such as construction tarps, waterproof sheets, and pool covers.

Hazel Sprafke, Vice President, Global Business Management, Plastic Additives, Asia Pacific at BASF, commented: “This partnership is a testament to how collaboration and scientific innovation can lead to durable, high-performance products that truly meet market needs.”

This development underlines BASF’s continued leadership in sustainable and functional chemical solutions tailored to outdoor environments, ensuring that partners like Hagihara Industries can deliver reliable, high-value materials.

About BASF plastic additives

BASF is a leading supplier, manufacturer, and innovation partner of plastic additives. Its comprehensive and innovative product portfolio includes additives that provide ease in processing, and heat and light resistance to a variety of polymers and applications including molded articles, films, fibers, sheets, and extruded profiles. The portfolio is constantly analyzed, assessed and actively improved towards solutions which make a larger contribution to sustainability. More information about plastic additives: www.plasticadditives.basf.com.  

BASF plastic additives is part of BASF’s Performance Chemicals division. The division’s portfolio also includes fuel and lubricant solutions, as well as oilfield chemicals and mining solutions. Customers from a variety of industries including Chemicals, Plastics, Consumer Goods, Energy & Resources and Automotive & Transportation benefit from our innovative solutions. To learn more, visit http://www.performancechemicals.basf.com. 
About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

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SOURCE: BASF SE