text:
Digital Month Initiative Concludes Successfully with a Dramatic 94% Jump in Switching to Digital Services across Abu Dhabi
Digital Month Initiative Concludes with a 94 per cent Jump in Switching to Digital Services
The Abu Dhabi Government has completed the events and activities of its 'Digital Month' initiative, which was launched in March 2020 with the participation of more than 45 government entities in the emirate.
The 'Digital Month' initiative reflects the ambitious vision of the UAE's leadership to use Information Technology to serve the community and advance government services.
The initiative has yielded impressive results, with a dramatic 94% jump in switching to digital services across Abu Dhabi, a rise of 83% in online transactions, and an increase of 25% in the total number of visits to digital channels.
Today, government entities provide more than 1,000 services across various digital channels, through which it completed more than 8 million transactions during the final quarter of last year. Digital transformation provides added value at multiple levels, as it saves more than 300,000 days of work for government employees and 16 million customers visits.
One of the objectives of the initiative is to help the public save time and effort by enabling the completion of their transactions remotely via digital channels. Accordingly, switching to digital services registered a rise of 19% to 94% during the 'Digital Month' from 75% in the previous month.
Digital channels recorded 13,738,985 visits during 'Digital Month', compared to 10,966,912 visits in the previous month. The number of online transactions also increased to 1,089,275 from 620,557.
The initiative was launched under the supervision of the Higher Committee of Digital Government, in the course of its efforts to implement a governance framework across the Abu Dhabi Government and make a fundamental change in the concept of government services, moving towards a digital future.
The 'Digital Month' initiative's outcomes reflect a rise in community awareness about the benefits of digital government services and the extent to which the public will benefit from them, enabling everyone to support the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Vision.
Speaking on the occasion, His Excellency Ali Rashid Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Department of Government Support in Abu Dhabi, expressed his happiness at the impressive outcomes of the 'Digital Month' initiative, which highlight the successes that government entities in Abu Dhabi have achieved in digital transformation, as well as their readiness to keep pace with future requirements.
H.E. Al Ketbi said: "This initiative reflects the commitment of all government entities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to offer cooperation and make all possible efforts to improve the various aspects of the lives of both citizens and residents. This initiative aims to raise community awareness about the benefits of digital government services and advise the public to take advantage of the digital services system, enabling them to contribute to supporting the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Vision."
H.E. Al Ketbi explained that the initiative contributes to enhancing the efforts made by the Abu Dhabi Government over the past years to promote a digital future in the emirate, stressing that the initiative will help make Abu Dhabi a better place for living, investing, and doing business.
The 'Digital Month' is a unique initiative that sheds light on the benefits that both citizens and residents who rely more on digital services can obtain, instead of visiting a variety of government departments and entities to complete their transactions.
The initiative, which was launched under the theme '#TimeForYou', also highlights the role of digital solutions and services in saving more time for the public, allowing them to focus more on other activities and positive aspects of their daily lives.
Engineer Mohamed Abdel Hameed Al Askar, Acting Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, said: "The objectives of the 'Digital Month' initiative revolve around emphasising the role that digital solutions and services play in providing more time for members of society, allowing them to focus more on positive aspects of their everyday lives, in addition to educating the public about the multiple benefits that everyone can acquire by relying on digital services."
With the impressive results of the initiative, Engineer Al Askar called on the public to make maximum use of the available government digital services and take part in the on-going development of these services by sharing their feedback via digital channels to improve the customer experience.
H.E. Major General Maktoum Ali Al Sharifi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Police, said: "The Abu Dhabi Police is providing smart services to the public on its digital platforms in line with the 'Digital Month' initiative, which was launched by Abu Dhabi Government to encourage citizens and residents to switch to digital services and educate them on the available government services provided in Abu Dhabi."
H.E. Major General Al Sharifi said that the General Command of Abu Dhabi Police is keen to continue collaborating with government entities in Abu Dhabi to develop its services around the clock, keeping pace with new technologies and harnessing them to enhance communication with the public by streamlining procedures.
H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Acting Undersecretary of the Department of Health–Abu Dhabi, said: "The Department of Health took part in the 'Digital Month' initiative by launching the 'Remote Healthcare Platform', a smartphone application providing users with safe and easy access to health care services remotely, including medical diagnoses and consultations."
Dr. Al Kaabi added: "Using such applications, digital solutions, and AI technologies, particularly in the context of the current exceptional circumstances in the UAE and the whole world, brings a fundamental change to the health care system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and upgrades the efficiency of medical services. The department is keen to use these technologies and digital solutions in the field of health care delivery in order to achieve the highest levels of efficiency in the health sector and enhance the quality of its services."
Abdullah Al-Sahi, Acting Under-Secretary of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, said: "The Department of Municipalities and Transport has completed more than 1.1 million transactions via its multiple digital channels in the first quarter of this year, constituting about 84% of its total transactions. This has been achieved despite the fact that the department's employees have been working remotely during this period. These numbers reflect our strategic objectives to strengthen Abu Dhabi's position on the list of smart cities by using modern technologies to provide municipal and transport services at a level that satisfies users and improves the quality of life for society."
H.E. Rashid Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, Acting Under-Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said: "We are proud of our participation in the 'Digital Month' initiative, which was launched within the framework of the Abu Dhabi Government's efforts to use digital solutions in the service of society and develop the government's work system. The department has provided all online licensing services via Abu Dhabi's unified government services platform, TAMM, becoming the first government entity in Abu Dhabi to switch its whole range of services to the platform.
H.E. Al Balooshi added: "The 'Digital Month' initiative represents a quantum leap forward in the digital transformation process, which contributes to improving the quality of life of Abu Dhabi's residents, enhancing economic growth opportunities, and supporting the private sector's contribution to the emirate's GDP, as digital services save both time and effort for investors and businessmen."
H.E. Engineer Mohammed bin Jarsh Al Falasi, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, said: "As AI technologies will become an everyday reality, the 'Digital Month' initiative was an opportunity to highlight the sturdiness of the infrastructure of government digital services and the readiness of different sectors to keep pace with future requirements, particularly during the current exceptional circumstances that require social distancing and carrying out most of the work remotely. We have seen how our strategies and proactive initiatives to enhance the digital transformation of the Abu Dhabi government have contributed to strengthening our ability to address the crisis and ensuring business continuity to provide government services at the highest standards of quality."
H.E. Engineer Al Falasi added: "Digital transformation is a key pillar of the Department's energy transformation strategy to create a global model in building a sustainable future based on integrated digital solutions. This encourages investment in clean and renewable energy, enhances operational and energy efficiency, and reduces our environmental footprint. We are proud of our participation in the 'Digital Month' initiative and the smart services and digital solutions that we offer to our customers to facilitate licensing and compliance transactions, thus streamlining the submission of organisation reports for companies operating in the sector in line with our vision of building a prosperous future, a sustainable society, and a safe environment for all members of society."
Her Excellency Alia Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Acting Director-General of the Abu Dhabi School of Government, said: "The Academy continues to stimulate and support the education system in the present circumstances by providing its programmes to train and develop the skills of government employees remotely, thereby promoting the digital transformation strategy of the Abu Dhabi Government. The Academy believes in the importance of digital transformation and the new opportunities it provides in all sectors of life and in various areas of Government, and we have started to see the impact of digital transformation and its ability to re-shape the future."
H.E. Al Mazrouei added: "We launched the 'Digital Learning Challenge' during the Abu Dhabi government's 'Digital Month' to enable employees in the Abu Dhabi Government to acquire the skills required in the era of digital transformation through a series of training programmes provided by the world's best universities and educational institutions via the Academy's e-learning platform. These programmes are designed to provide employees with the tools and skills required to demonstrate excellence in their work and to adapt to the continuous future changes in the labour market."
H.E. Al Mazrouei stressed that the great success achieved by the 'Digital Learning Challenge' initiative encouraged the Academy to launch the 'Digital Learning for All' programme for all residents of the UAE. The programme gives access to 4,000 training courses provided by prestigious universities and educational institutions from around the world.
H.E. Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director-General of the General Administration of Customs – Abu Dhabi, praised the 'Digital Month' initiative as launched by the Abu Dhabi Government to enhance the government's digital system and highlight the role of digital solutions and services in achieving the objectives of the emirate's digital community.
H.E. Al Mansoori added: "The 'Digital Month' initiative supports the General Administration of Customs' efforts to highlight its technical system, which are in line with the emirate's efforts to build a knowledge-based economy, strengthen Abu Dhabi's prestigious position as one of the most advanced cities in the world, and shed light on the administration's flexibility and ability to ensure business continuity and maintain outstanding customs services."
H.E. Amer Al Hammadi, Acting Undersecretary at the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) said: "The Department participated in Abu Dhabi's 'Digital Month' initiative, which was launched to further strengthen the government framework, by offering eight new e-services to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided to customers, saving time and effort for students and their parents, as well as educational staff, when completing transactions and requesting any innovative services.
Al Hammadi praised the efforts made by Abu Dhabi government to promote a new era of government e-services focusing on customers' needs, which in turn highlight the government's constant keenness to employ the best digital solutions in light of the on-going changes around the world that require a fast and efficient approach.
The 'Digital Month' saw the launch of many initiatives that have introduced a new concept how government services are offered and elevating the customer experience by using the latest technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial intelligence (AI) and Blockchain.
Among these initiatives is Abu Dhabi Connect, which was introduced by the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA), aimed at creating a comprehensive framework enabling government entities in Abu Dhabi to digitally exchange documents of individuals and companies by transforming these paper documents into digital data using secure digital channels.
This first-of-its-kind initiative is a project under the umbrella of TAMM and helped with converting more than 50 hard-copy documents into digital data for use across 24 government entities, saving more than AED714 million for customers, 737,000 working hours for government entities, and around 31 million archived documents annually. The completion of the Abu Dhabi Connect initiative enables Abu Dhabi residents to access government services and complete their transactions without the need to carry personal documents and identification.
Additionally, the Department of Government Support, represented by the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority and in line with the 'Digital Month' initiative, has activated remote working systems at government entities and departments in Abu Dhabi. The system includes many technology-driven offerings such as remote meetings across many devices, scheduling and re-scheduling meetings, file sharing, and enabling communications between teams using safe and secure channels.
In another achievement, the Department of Economic Development transferred all of its services to TAMM to be the first government entity to successfully achieve 100 per cent digital transformation. The Department transferred 83 economic licensing services, including 25 services for licensing and advertising, 31 services for industrial activities and 27 services for commercial services.
Additionally, the General Administration of Customs in Abu Dhabi has moved all of its services to TAMM, where the Abu Dhabi Police also offers its smart services on its digital channels.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge introduced eight new e-services covering 95% of their customers' needs. The new services, which are available via TAMM, aim at increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided to customers, including certificate authentication, authentication of academic records, student report authentication, and certifying documents digitally. Additionally, the Maqta Gateway, a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, has launched a new set of digital services for industrial areas.
Complementing efforts made by Abu Dhabi Government to accelerate digital transformation throughout the emirate, and to enable all residents to benefit from the positive elements of the digital revolution, the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination activated ten main digital services provided through the TAMM platform. These services include Get People of Determination, Request Employment of People of Determination, Request for Practical Training for University and College Students, Request Sports Club Membership for People of Determination, Request Sign Language Interpreter, Appoint Meeting for Full Assessment and Evaluation, Get Report for Student of Determination, Volunteer for the People of Determination Caring Activities, Request to Provide Materials in Braille, and Request Parking Permit for People of Determination.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport launched a package of new digital services through the "SmartHub" platform, and the Department of Energy offered its digital services on the Abu Dhabi Energy Services platform, including issuing new licenses, cancelling, renewing or revising licenses, obtaining approvals and exceptions.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Health launched its Remote Healthcare Platform, a smartphone application, and offers support for innovative ideas in the healthcare sector through the AI lab. Abu Dhabi Retirement Pension & Benefits Fund have offered a package of digital services that can be accessed on its website and smartphone apps, and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry offered several digital services through its Abu Dhabi Chamber Digital Platform.
With the aim of building the skills required for the age of digital transformation, the Abu Dhabi School of Government launched the "Next Generation Abu Dhabi" digital platform, targeting Abu Dhabi youth. The platform will enhance the concept of learning continuity and encourage the next generation to keep abreast of the latest developments.
The Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute has launched its ACTVET Smart Platform for remote learning, and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi launched the Digital Environmental License.
TAMM reflects the efforts made by the Abu Dhabi government to accelerate digital transformation in the capital. In close coordination with all government entities in Abu Dhabi, TAMM employs the latest technology and digital solutions to offer smooth experiences for customers, providing all Abu Dhabi residents with high quality and efficient government services through a safe, integrated digital platform.


Steel Magnolia Past Presidents welcomed the 2016 President Tammy Newland into their circle. The luncheon hosted by Founder Shirley Wild and Chairman Anthony Gagliardi was held at Tantalum restaurant. From left: Anthony Gagliardi, Mari Hooper, Dawn McKenna, Mary Alice Braly, Tammy Newland, Lorie Merrill, and Gail Gray.
See what your donations can do for children and families with extraordinary needs.


text:
Q: Best GNU Find Replacement I'm looking for a better find. The reason is that the find user interface is unintuitive to me (in particular, the pruning / -print style) and difficult to wrap in a function due to strict requirements on argument ordering. locate / updatedb isn't flexible enough to use instead. Would anyone care to share their example find wrappers or find alternatives (command line only, please)?
Here's an example of what I find to be unintuitive usage:
find dir_a dir_b \( -path dir_a/.git -o -path dir_b/out \) -prune -o \( -type f -o -type l \)

Specifying directories before options is strange to me and the syntax for pruning is easily forgotten. (Some programs use a --exclude option instead.) I recognize this is a picky point.
Here's my best attempt at specifying some defaults without losing much functionality:
f()
{
  # The trouble is that -regextype must appear after path but before expression.
  # HACK: "-D debugopts" unsupported and -[HLPO] options assumed to before dirs.
  local a=()
  while [[ -n "$1" ]] && ( [[ ! "${1:0:1}" =~ [-!(),] ]] || [[ "${1:0:2}" =~ -[HLPO] ]] )
  do
    a+=("$1")

    # Eliminate arg from @.
    shift
  done

  find -O3 "${a[@]}" -nowarn -regextype egrep "$@"
}

It seems silly to require a perfect understanding of all options in the program to be able to wrap it up with some defaults and not lose functionality / compatibility with plain find.
I'm guessing I won't fine anything as standard as GNU find, but there might be something better, albeit lesser known.
Update (2013-11-26):

*

*At Itay's suggestion, I used ack for about a year. It works very well for at least 95% of my searches.

*I recently discovered Ag, which is a fast version of ack. It's been working well for the past few weeks.

Update (2014-11-23):
I highly recommend Ag. It works great. There are still many times Find is necessary and for that I continue to seek a nice replacement. Although unquestionably useful, Find's interface is very dated and unnecessarily difficult in my opinion.
Update (2017-08-04):
I now most highly recommend ripgrep as an indispensable Ag replacement. It's a very new tool but it's support for .gitignore files greatly surpasses Ag and in all other ways it is equivalent or better. I continue to search for a Find replacement.
Update (2021-11-28):
I continue to use and love ripgrep which meets most of my needs. For everything else, I use a mixture of find and fd.

A: You should try Ack, which is a replacement for both find and grep, optimized for working with source-code trees.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I have done a fair amount of research on digital first publishers and thought I would share my list for other authors in the process of deciding where to submit. These three have been mentioned by other authors as being very writer friendly and offering fair contracts.
I always like to double check with the Preditors and Editors site before choosing where to submit.


I have been searching my blog (not that it took too long because there are only 58 posts) for the before pictures of the bathroom.
They are in fact not here.
Strange thing is, I know I posted them. I remember EXACTLY what I was doing when I did it, and all the expletives I used at the time (not really) because my camera was on the fritz.
So I had to use my old one.
And then to upload the pictures, I had to install the software that came with the camera (I didn't know until yesterday that I have a SD slot on my laptop).
Which is when I learned that the software isn't compatible with me anymore.
And that neither Bill Gates or Bill Hewlett or David Packard are going to be creating an update for me.
And then I cried. And so did my old computer because it needed a fan blown on it to work.
Well the whole point of all that was to post those pictures and I'll be danged if they aren't here!
But they aren't and I'll just post both the before and after pictures.
Bit of a warning though, these are not nearly as dramatic and the other rooms. I did go through everything, much of which I really still use (I went with the if I haven't used it in three months it was outta there). So things were pretty much just rearranged so they weren't falling over each other anymore.
I did get rid of a HUGE load of make-up. Some with an expiration date of 1998, April. I don't wear makeup all that often, as you can tell.
Another warning, we have a long narrow bathroom which makes it very hard to take pictures, so these pictures aren't the best, but they are the best I could do with two monkeys running around my legs.
This is under the sink. And those are my little man's underwear. It is looking like he is his father's boy.
This is the after, not too much different, just more organized. I find it so hard to organize stuff in this cabinet because of the dang pipes. There is a new fancy way to do pipes, but my husband, who is a plumber, won't do it for me. It would give me so much more room though.
This is an extra cabinet we have beside the sink because there isn't enough room under the sink. It is generally just a open the door, toss your stuff in and close it as quickly as possible. You know, like many tupperware drawers across the country.
Tidy. And minus ten thousand pounds of make up from the 90's.
Sink shot from above. See that shelf there. That is my husband stuff. Except for the shaving cream, that is pretty much it. HA! to be a man.
After. Look at all those Aveeno bottles in the rack. I should really take out stock in Aveeno. Seriously.
This is a before and after in itself because this corner always looks like this, except there is usually a laundry hamper sitting under the light switch. You've seen that before. My husbands clothes are typically hanging out of it.
That's them! It feels nice and tidy now, even if there isn't that much of a difference. And because I'm clean on a molecular level, I didn't have to scrub or anything. Just tidy.
The next room will be more thrilling. I promise.


I am interested in the process by which we interpret and respond to the world around us. My artistic practice is driven by questions about the dissonance that occurs when we encounter information that conflicts with our mental models, as well as our agency in the construction of our individual realities. My work is the result of my own attempts to reconcile this cognitive dissonance. I create a space of uncertainty for my audience to occupy as they negotiate patterns and rhythms in search of congruencies. In this space, the ambiguity of "what is" provides a springboard to consider "what could be"; it is where we (re)construct our mental models of reality and become better versions of ourselves.
Photographic images – subjective ambiguities disguised as objective truths – now serve as the standard by which we interpret and evaluate our experiences with the universe. They drive a feedback loop in which we produce, and then consume, imagery that reinforces the dominant ideologies within our culture. I rely upon the indexicality and seriality of photography, the very same qualities that facilitate the medium's authority over us, to create narratives that are out of sync with our visual culture in an attempt to undermine the power external forces have over our construction of reality.


When I first started developing on Linux and using Makefiles, I started with simple Makefile scripts and later built upon each preceding one. What eventuated is the attached set of files that should make compilation of multiple sources into a single target an easier exercise. There are, of course, many other alternatives, such as Automake, Bakefiles and CMake (all of which are far more sophisticated). If their 'sophistication' causes too much of a headache when you simply want to compile a couple of files, this could help - or could aid you in writing another Makefile-based solution for yourself.
Makefile: this is a sample file. Note that your project might have a number of components, each in their own directory. Each component can have its own Makefile (in its own directory) that could reference one copy of the above two files. Then a master Makefile (say, in the project's root directory) could invoke all the lower-level Makefiles to build the entire solution.
#   run Make with the goal by the same name (which should create the file) and then include it.
The top include and bottom include & sinclude are mandatory, and everything else must be inbetween.
Some of these are 'booleans' in that if the variable is declared (the value is irrelevant) then a certain action will be taken (or not), eg: NOCVS.
This sets up a nice way of calling the down-level Makefiles automatically or manually, depending on the make arguments.


text:
Q: Drupal6 : Dev - Stage -Online for a small group of developers I hire tommrow a new developer, since now i worked alone, now i need to do some enviorment to developing and do a stage - online step
what is the leading tools (even if need to pay somthing) to do that?
 i saw webenabled.. so far..

A: You'll need a some sort of version control system (VCS) for your project code. Since Drupal.org now use Git which is pretty good and awesome, you should too. There are several hosting solution for Git, the most popular seems to be GitHub.
In your code repository, I recommend not to put the whole site directory but only your own custom code. Regardless the used VCS, here is what I put in my code repository

*

*A .make file used to download Drupal core, contrib modules and contrib themes and apply patches (if required)

*a module folder with only the custom modules

*a themes folder with only the custom themes

*A build script to

*

*run drush make on the .make file to download Drupal core and contribs to a (VCS ignored) dist folder

*copy the modules folder to dist/sites/all/modules/custom

*copy the themes folder to to dist/sites/all/themes/custom
This to

*

*properly track changes to your project custom code

*properly track used core and contribs versions (in the .make file)

*prevent core or contribs hack but allow patching when required (Drush Make requires the applied patches to be available at a publicly accessible HTTP address)

For the build script, I use Phing but any scripting languages (ant, bash, php, ruby, etc.) could be used. With some additional work, the build script can also be used to run automated test (SimpleTest) and code validation (php -l and Coder Review). In the end, the build script produce and update dist folder ready for deployment.
For multi developpers project, I try to have as much configurations as possible exported into code instead of working at the database level to store. Mainly by using exportables through the Features module and by having a project specific profile to define and update non-exportable configurations through its hook_install and hook_update_N implementations. See The Development -> Staging -> Production Workflow Problem in Drupal and the Code driven development: using Features effectively in Drupal 6 and 7 presentation.

A: There are a few options for this, there is deployment module that is alpha but apparently works good. Then there is plain old svn ( or even rsync ). That get the job done pretty fast, and give you the added bonus of source code management but you need to transfer databases manually.
Last but not least, and the most powerful method of the 3 mentionned, is drush.
Whatever you chose depends on the time you are willing to invest in this step, because short-term they all involve a little more time than just copying a site in another folder but the task would be automated once you do it, so long-term you can easily repeat the deployment and this is where these tools will make you save time.
Good-luck!


text:
Santander's 10-year partnership with NTU celebrated
A celebration event to mark Nottingham Trent University's partnership with a major banking group, which has seen more than £680,000 invested in opportunities for students, has been held.
Santander Celebration
Prof Edward Peck speaks to delegates at the Santander Celebration event
Nottingham Trent University joined the Santander Universities UK partnership five years ago and has benefited from various of its projects. These include the SME internship scheme which supports small and medium sized businesses to employ students via internships which have ranged in length from two to 10 weeks.
Santander this year marks 10 years of working with universities and, to commemorate its strong links with the bank, Nottingham Trent held the celebration event attended by senior members of both organisations.
Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University said: "Our relationship with Santander Universities is very important to me and I am very proud to have seen it develop so that the University can now firmly call itself one of Santander's strongest partners. This relationship enables us to provide a wealth of opportunities to our students and staff year-on-year which would often otherwise not be available to them. It also makes a real difference to the communities, both locally and internationally, whom they serve."
Since partnering with Santander in 2012/13, Nottingham Trent has received £570,000 from the Santander Universities UK fund to help provide opportunities to students. The internship programme alone has supported 307 NTU students with many others helped across a range of areas. Throughout the celebration event, guests heard from employers, students and staff who had benefited from the scheme.
This relationship enables us to provide a wealth of opportunities to our students and staff year-on-year which would often otherwise not be available to them.
Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor Nottingham Trent University
Highlights of the past five years include the funding of legal assistants at the Nottingham Law School Legal Advice Centre, supporting international scholarships to China, Ghana & USA, and promoting digital innovation at NTU by buying 22 iPads that are used to improve academics' modelling of good digital practice in the classroom and in support of trainee primary and secondary school teachers.
Santander Universities has announced further funding for 2017/18 for partner UK universities including Nottingham Trent, totalling over £10.1m. This money will be used towards nurturing enterprise and entrepreneurship, supporting challenges of particular student groups through the Student Impact Fund and to allow the continued success of the SME internship scheme.
Matt Hutnell, Director of Santander Universities UK, said: "We are delighted that the partnership between Santander Universities and NTU has gone from strength to strength during the past five years and we are looking forward to working together for many more years to come."
Nottingham Trent University is Modern University of the Year 2018. The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide award recognises NTU for its strong student satisfaction, quality of teaching, overall student experience and engagement with employers.
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been awarded the highest, gold, rating in the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework for its outstanding teaching and learning.
NTU is one of the largest UK universities with nearly 28,000 students and more than 3,500 staff across four campuses, contributing £496m to the UK economy every year. It is one of the most environmentally-friendly universities, containing some of the country's most inspiring and efficient award-winning buildings.
The University is passionate about creating opportunities and its extensive outreach programme is designed to enable Nottingham Trent to be a vehicle for social mobility. NTU is the sixth biggest recruiter of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the country and 95.6% of the its graduates go on to employment or further education within six months of leaving.
NTU is home to world-class research, winning The Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2015 - the highest national honour for a UK university. It recognised the University's pioneering projects to improve weapons and explosives detection in luggage, enable safer production of powdered infant formula and combat food fraud.
With an international student population of approximately 2,600 from around 100 countries, the University prides itself on its global outlook.
Category: Press office

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


For my next adventure I'd hoped to combine a trip to the Trampas Lakes with an ascent of Jicarilla Peak, a 12,494-foot elevation prominance north of the lakes. The trail out to the lakes and back was 12 miles and only 2,500 feet in elevation so I thought that an additional 1,000-foot scaramble up the peak would be no big deal, even if it were to take an extra couple hours.
I was on the trail by 7am, ascending the deeply shaded canyon – which felt really cold despite it being only in the upper 20s – surrounded by trees, frost, and more frost. I planned on going to the lakes first before backtracking down canyon to the route that accessed the peak and thus reached the twin lakes in decent time, just after 9am. As I entered the glacial cirque I turned right, walking the length of the westernmost lake before crossing over too the eastern lake. Both lakes were gorgeous, ringed by the craggy profiles of multiple named and unnamed peaks.
After getting my fill I decended back down canyon on an onofffical route that joined up with the official trail down to Hidden Lake. As far as I was able to determine, I had to continue descending past the lake before reaching the base of Jicarilla and so I did just that, walking a mile beyond the lake, looking for a reasonable way up. I saw none. I backtracked and retraced my steps, peering intently at avalanche chute after avalanche chute. I crossed the bases of many of them, picking my way along the unsteady rock for over an hour, making attempts up multiple routes before giving in. Being out there alone on no discernable trail and climbing up a thousand feet of unstable boulders was just outside the range of what I considered prudent.
What did seem possible was the bushwack to the top of the cirque due south of the twin Trampas Lakes – or at least my recollection of it – and so I trudged back up 700 feet along the trail until I rememerged in front of the western body of water. Peering across the lake I decided on the route that would get me above the treeline and set off in following the shore as I admired the sunlight glistening on the clear water.
Upon reaching the south end of the lake I began my steep scramble up the bowl, weaving my way 500 feet up through conifers until I reached the treeline – where the rocky alpine ecosystem became suddenly predominant. I spent a few minutes walking parallel to the ridge scouting a couple possible routes up and waiting for my legs to recover, until I had the realization that though the lactic acid had long since dissipated, the heaviness and fatigue in my muscles had not. I did some math: My on- and off-trail wanderings only totaled perhaps 10 miles and 4,000 feet in elevation gain at this point, but my legs were telling me this last 700 feet of scramble up the ridge would be almost too much. Plus I had 6+ miles of hiking ahead of me from here to the trailhead. I hemmed and hawed, and finally concluded that while I was certain I could ascend the loose rocky scree, I was not sure that descending without taking a tumble was in the cards. It annoyed me since I knew if I had not spent the time and energy trying to find a way up Jicarilla I would have easily been able to manage this scramble, but I knew that descending was the right thing to do.
As a consolation prize I decided to bushwack back to the trail via the far side of the lake; with the sun almost behind me, the clarity of the water permitted me to see quite far into the depths. About halfway down I spotted the first of many trout. I stood still on the shore watching as more emerged from the depths and began an elaborate dance as Abby cruised around far behind me. Entranced, I pulled out my phone began shooting video. I then walked a few more steps to watch another groups of fish, phone still in hand. This cluster of trout were partially obscured by the sun however so I crouched down and began filming. After a minute or so I stood up, ready to move on. It was then that I heard the low growl and a snort from right behind me. A bear. I whirled around, looking simultaneously for both Abby and the culprit. Abbs was already bounding towards me, clearly perturbed that she had failed to detect the threat, as I yelled, "Stay!" She stopped short right between me and the location from which the noise came, her fur puffed up beyond recognition and a throaty, defensive growl coming from her chest. I continued yelling commands while looking into the sun, into the trees, trying to locate the animal. I saw nothing. Another snort was issued. I raised my arms and began walking backward into the lake, yelling new commands at Abby to follow me. She listened and we began moving away with her staying between me and the bear. Once I felt we'd put a hundred feet or so between us I turned and began making faster forward progress; a protest in the way of a growl was heard behind us which made us both spin around and necessitated me yelling more commands to Abby – though to her credit she merely moved closer to me in a protective stance. By the time we reached the end of the lake we were free of forest cover and I picked up the pace as we began our descent down-canyon.
After a half hour my guard lowered and we resumed our normal casual hiking pattern in which I hike and take photos and she does whatever she wants within a quarter mile of me. By the time we encountered a small stand of aspen alight in the sunshine four miles from the lake and two miles from the trailhead I felt more than comfortable taking a couple side-trips to inspect the glowing leaves overhead. It was a calm and lovely end to what had been an eventful hike.
← The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Or, The Golden Age of Ballooning.
Wow that's quite the hike. I'm glad you are an experienced hiker and know your limits and what to do in a bear encounter. Impressive that you managed to take these lovely pictures. Happy New Year Meghan and happy hiking in 2018!
Thanks, Caroline! It was a real adventure and the scenery was mind-blowingly beautiful. I wish you a happy New Year as well!!
Meghan, your writing made me feel like I was there with you on your hike. I got shivers when you described your and Abby's encounter with the bear! Glad you are both safe.
Loved your pictures, as usual, and your video, especially of the trout.
All the pics are gorgeous. Glad you knew what to do in the situation of the bear.
Thank you, Jessica! I'm quite happy the bear wasn't too intent on chasing us out of his/her territory. Happy New Year!
Beautiful photos and videos…very scary story about that bear. Glad everyone stayed calm and you got out safely. Have a Happy New Year.
Thanks so much! I'm certainly glad I had Abby with me. She's an excellent defender. 🙂 Hope you have a happy New Year as well!
Yikes, scary! Glad you made it safely back to the trailhead. Hopefully 2018 will provide another chance for you to make it to the top of the peak. Happy New Year!
Yes, the peak will have to wait for another day but I really can't complain since the hike was so damn pretty. Happy 2018!
Nice pics Meghan. Have a Happy & Healthy New Year!


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Closure of 50 GLCs will help save RM150 million annually: Terengganu MB
08 May 2019 / 16:41 H.
KUALA TERENGGANU: The closures of 50 government-linked companies (GLC) under the Terengganu government which are no longer active will save up to RM150 million a year.
Mentri Besar Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (pix) said that the PAS government had already identified the weaknesses, shortcomings and strengths of the subsidiary companies belonging to the state government during its one-year rule of the state.
''We will decide which company to close, be combined and continued. The state government prior to this had to inject RM150 million a year for the companies although they are no longer contributing to the economy of the state.
''As such, we have decided to close the 50 subsidiary companies to avoid more losses and the money saved can be used for the people,'' he told reporters after chairing the weekly executive council meeting here today.
In the meantime, Ahmad Samsuri said the administrative office of the Terengganu government would be retained at Wisma Darul Iman and not moved to a new building as planned by the previous state government as it would save between RM30 million to RM40 million. — Bernama
Minister of Housing and Local Government Zuraida Kamaruddin (C) conductes a field visit to the Pasir Pinji market in Ipoh today. - Bernama
KPKT approves RM1m consultation fee for Pasir Pinji new market project
Kun Nhim, director-general of the General Department of Customs and Excise, and Environment Minister Say Samal inspect containers full of waste yesterday at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port. - Khmer Times
Cambodia sends back 83 containers of plastic waste
MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya. - Bernama
MACC awaits briefing on weaknesses in Auditor-General's report
Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Junz Wong. - Facebook
JE virus found on Sabah man, Minister says 'don't speculate'


text:
Mount Coree (Coree Mount) är ett berg i Australien. Det ligger på gränsen mellan kommunen Yass Valley i delstaten New South Wales och Australian Capital Territory, i den sydöstra delen av landet, omkring 270 kilometer sydväst om Sydney. Toppen på Mount Coree är  meter över havet, eller  meter över den omgivande terrängen. Bredden vid basen är  km.

Trakten runt Mount Coree är nära nog obefolkad, med mindre än två invånare per kvadratkilometer..

I omgivningarna runt Mount Coree växer i huvudsak städsegrön lövskog. Genomsnittlig årsnederbörd är  millimeter. Den regnigaste månaden är februari, med i genomsnitt  mm nederbörd, och den torraste är oktober, med  mm nederbörd.

Kommentarer

Källor

Berg i New South Wales
Berg i Australien 1000 meter över havet eller högre
Berg i Australian Capital Territory

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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FHFA raises 2023 conforming loan limits on Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac mortgages
BY Reuters | AGENCY | 11/29/22 11:54 AM EST
WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) said on Tuesday the conforming loan limit values (CLLs) for mortgages to be acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2023 for one-unit properties will be $726,200 in most of the country.
That represents an increase of $79,000 from $647,200 in 2022, FHFA said. (Reporting by Paul Simao; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Form FWP ROYAL BANK OF CANADA Filed by: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA BY EDGAR SEC Filings |ECONOMIC 05:20 PM EST
Form 424B2 ROYAL BANK OF CANADA BY EDGAR SEC Filings |ECONOMIC 05:20 PM EST


Given the rest of this stale field, no wonder Dean gets all the buzz.
If Howard Dean were in the Mafia, his nickname would be "Two Covers." Getting Time and Newsweek was quit the coup.
The questions isn't why Democratic voters like Dean -- they question is why they wouldn't.
Mr. Congress. He thinks, breathes, excretes the legislative imperative. If America was attacked again, he might well authorize an act of war, but his instincts would make him attach the declaration to a rider attached to a bill authorizing an inflation-related adjustment in the mohair subsidy. He can't help it.
He may well be better than the rest of us, but he could work harder at keeping the fact concealed. Might face heat this week as union members learn his fund-raising connections to Susie Buell, co-founder of the French-sounding Esprit clothing line.
Of course, it means no such thing, but when Republicans dine at the same restaurant as someone accused of unfair labor practices, they're accused of going back in time to start the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
Well let me tell 'bout the way he walks, the way he acts and the color of his hair.
His voice is soft and cool; his eyes are clear and bright, but he's not there.
Dull, earnest, always sounds like he's trying to pass a stone. Not a chance, you say?
According to a recent South Carolina poll, 13 percent of Democratic voters prefer Joe, as opposed to 4 percent for Howard "Two Covers" Dean.
No man with a Mo Stooge haircut has ever been elected president, and Kucinich will be no exception.
His Web site compares him to Seabiscuit -- another famous horse who came from behind, electrified a depressed nation, and was oddly unconcerned about Saddam Hussein's crimes.
Kucinich's most notable proposal so far is the creation of a Department of Peace, which would presumably issue Karma Level Alerts depending on how much other nations hated America.
Funny, personable, unguarded and unelectable. His incoherent politics and reprehensible history aside, his main problem is this: If you were writing a novel about an opportunistic pol who uses his personality to bamboozle his way onto the national stage, you'd want to name the character "Al Sharpton." Your editor would make you change it. Too obvious.
Amazing 93 percent name recognition drops to .01 percent when people realize the question is not about a tasty cracker.
That's the field. No wonder Dean has all the buzz. But it's not just the paucity of the candidates that makes him stand out; he has fire and charisma.
When the faithful hear him speak, it's as if they've grabbed a barbed wire; when he speaks of his burning need to wrest the nation's reins from the hands of the plutocrats and cake-eaters, you almost forget his plutocratic, cake-eating family roots.
Uh -- never mind. Anyway, passion is overrated. The ability to articulate the swirling fury of the hard-core is not a recipe for success.
If you bring the Nader voters back into the fold, great -- but if your personna drives the middle into the GOP camp, you've lost the race.
Not to say Dean couldn't win the undecided vote -- Americans want security, and Bush is hardly invulnerable on that front.
Hammer the president for Saudi-coddling, for the creepily named Homeland Security Department that seems more concerned with frisking grandmas than securing the borders and guarding the dams. That's a start.
Angry stump speeches about the need to raise taxes and invade Liberia: That's the end.


Just got this 2014 Stelvio 1200 NTX with and put it through its paces including my first gravel ride. I don't want to be one of those guys who only rides his adventure bike on the pavement so I'm going to make a concerted effort to learn to ride it standing (which I've been doing since I filmed the below video). Anyways, it's not a flawless bike but I'm quite impressed with it so far.
Adv bikes are the SUV's of the two wheeled variety and I intend at least 10% of my riding to be gravel with maybe some rougher trail in there occasionally.


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Green light for Re-Match recycling facility in the Netherlands
28th April 2021 /Re-Match /by ESTC
The new state-of-the-art synthetic turf recycling facility of Re-Match Netherlands is being built in Tiel in Gelderland and will create jobs for 35 full-time employees. Once the cleantech facility is fully operational, it will provide the capacity to recycle more than 2 million square meters of synthetic turf pitches per year (280 full pitches) from the Netherlands and Belgium. In plastic fibre alone, this saves the environment from pollution equivalent to 400 million plastic bags – every year.
Solving the real problem with a validated process
Re-Match's patented recycling process shreds, cleans and separates worn-out artificial grass and infill without adding neither water nor chemicals in the process which provides sand, rubber, backing and plastic fibre as clean and separated end products. While some waste handlers can separate the sand from the rubber, this is not what represents the real environmental challenge of end-of-life artificial turf – it is instead the rubber and plastic fibres that are the main CO2 contributors. Separating out these materials is where the real benefit can be found as just one artificial football pitch contains an amount of plastic fibre equivalent to 1,4 mill. plastic bags. So basically, Re-Match starts where other processes stop, as the company offers the only solution where more than just one end product can replace virgin materials in new production cycles.
This environmental impact has been validated by the EU and Re-Match is the only turf recycler to have received an ETV verification*. In addition, the Re-Match process is also ISO 9001 certified – thereby ensuring customers that the process contributes real recycling.
No nitrogen emissions
With the introduction of the zero nitrogen emission requirements, the new plant had to meet standards that no company had to meet before. "This was a huge challenge", says COO, Dr. Stefaan Florquin. "But that's what we do at Re-Match. We push the boundaries of environmental technologies while contributing to maximum reduction of nitrogen and the minimum use of fossil fuels. The last step towards becoming a local artificial turf recycler in the Netherlands is now successfully completed with the approval of the environmental permit".
Dutch factory as a blueprint for expansion
The factory in Tiel will be a state-of-the-art, digitized facility that will serve as a blueprint for many new recycling plants that Re-Match will build in Europe and North America. The factory in Tiel will be followed by factories in France, the UK and in the United States. "We are proud to announce the construction of the factory in Tiel", says CEO Nikolaj Magne Larsen. "It is an important milestone for the company and for our employees who have worked hard to achieve this goal – and we look forward to offering the most comprehensive recycling option in the Netherlands".
EU grant to help close the cycle
While sand and rubber from the recycling process is used as infill in new fields, the synthetic fibre has so far gone towards production of products such as picnic tables, support panels and parking posts. With a grant of 2,5 million euros from the EU Green Deal, Re-Match and its project partners are developing a process for the production of new yarns from recycled turf. There yarns can then be used for the production of new synthetic pitches, thus closing the cycle. "It is our mission to ensure full circularity of synthetic turf – and to us, this means that the plastic fibre is also used for production of new turf pitches," says Nikolaj Magne Larsen.
Tiel welcomes Re-Match
"The municipality of Tiel welcomes this innovative frontrunner in synthetic turf recycling. Tiel wants to attract future-oriented companies that offer added value for our residents and our local and regional economy. Companies that provide the jobs of the future for our residents", says wethouder Ben Brink of the municipality of Tiel. "With their advanced factory, Re-Match offers a good solution for a growing environmental and virgin materials problem. Re-Match has chosen Tiel because of its excellent connections with the rest of the country. That and the presence of a growing number of cooperating and sustainable companies, makes Tiel an extremely suitable location".
Ideal geographic location
The new facility of Re-Match Netherlands, which currently has an office in Rijen, will be located at Panovenweg in the industrial region Kellen in Tiel. This is not only in the centre of the country, but also close to highway A15/A2, the Amsterdam Rhine Canal and only 45 kilometres from Germany, which also makes the location as efficient as possible in terms of transport.
The site where the factory will be built, covers 31.800 m2 and the factory itself will be 8.769 m2. It will reach a height of 20 meters due to a separation tower that will carry out the final part of the recycling process, resulting in clean end products – ready to replace virgin materials in new production cycles.
A responsible choice
At Sportbedrijf Rotterdam, a leading sports facility company, they look forward to continuing the good cooperation with Re-Match: "We are happy with this new cleantech facility. If you want to make a responsible choice for recycling artificial turf, Re-Match is a very good option. They are able to separate components for 99,5% in order to replace virgin material. And there are many reasons more that justifies choosing Re-Match."
During the new construction phase, Re-Match Netherlands will continue to collect worn-out synthetic turf pitches. These will be recycled in the new factory as soon as production starts in Tiel.
"The Netherlands is the country with the highest square meters of artificial turf per inhabitant in the world," says Nikolaj Magne Larsen. "And we are delighted to now be able to offer the Netherlands a truly sustainable recycling solution for its end-of-life turf".
(*) Environmental Technology Verification
https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/re-match-turf-recycling.jpg 982 1472 ESTC https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STC-EMEA.png ESTC2021-04-28 12:58:432021-04-28 12:58:43Green light for Re-Match recycling facility in the Netherlands
Evolution of high quality shock pad is ahead of its time
21st January 2021 /Schmitz Foam /by ESTC
The new ProPlay-Sport20 passes all tests
The start of the new decade saw the ProPlay-Sport20 undergoing a update, this to ensure the world's most popular shock pad is future-proof. 2020 turned out to be a year that was demanding in many ways, but the renewed ProPlay-Sport20 passed with distinction.
ProPlay-Sport20 is widely praised for its sports technical performance and high drainage capacity. As the shock pad is made of remnant foam and it can be fully recycled after end-of-use, this shock pad also scores well when the environmental impact of an artificial turf system is considered. This is one of the reasons why the demand for ProPlay-Sport20 has grown exponentially in recent years. In order to continue guaranteeing high quality and availability in the future, Schmitz Foam Products decided to revise the composition of the ProPlay-Sport20. The well-known and trusted 12mm thick layer of foam flakes is now combined with an 8mm thick foam layer. "This year we started laminating the ProPlay-Sport20 with a polyethylene foam that is specifically produced for Schmitz Foam Products. From 2021, the production of this foam layer is brought inhouse. By continuing to invest in our processes and products, we maintain control of the supply chain and anticipate the continuously increasing demand for ProPlay," explains Ron Lokhorst, Export Manager at Schmitz Foam Products.
The adjustment is in line with the aim of governments and industries to produce smarter and more efficiently in the coming years in order to make optimal use of scarce raw materials. "Schmitz Foam Products had already introduced this approach in the 1980s. That is why we give cut-offs from the world's largest foam producers a second chance by using them as the base material for our ProPlay. As our suppliers now start producing more efficiently, we have the obligation as a market leader to take the next step. This to ensure we stay ahead and can continue guaranteeing our deliveries."
Sustainable field
The new ProPlay-Sport20 hit the market for the first time this year. One of the first Dutch artificial turf football fields to benefit is the renovated main field at Be Quick'28 in Zwolle. The field is filled in with TPE infill and sand that has been reclaimed from the previous top-layer. "The municipality has a clear policy on sustainable construction, and strives to reuse good materials as much as possible," says Jos Florax of the municipality of Zwolle, when explaining the decision. The renovated top-layer was installed on the ProPlay-Sport20. "The contractor was asked to deliver a pitch that would pass the tests the Dutch FA, KNVB, has set for artificial turf pitches. Because we did not want to replace the existing subbase of sand and steagran, it was decided to use the ProPlay-Sport20 sheets. It turned out to be the only way for the field to meet those stringent KNVB requirements. If we had had to excavate that subbase and replace it, we would have violated our sustainability principles," Florax adds.
The main field of Be Quick'28 is now the second synthetic turf pitch at the sports facility that is installed on ProPlay-Sport20 shock pads. Field number six, which had been transferred to neighbouring club PEC Zwolle, was renovated by the stadium club. The club will use this renovated field for its own youth academy. PEC Zwolle used the artificial turf carpet with TPE infill that had been removed from the stadium as the stadium field was converted to a natural grass surface. As the existing ProPlay on field six was still in good condition, it was decided to maintain it. According to contractor, CSC Sport, this decision allowed the field to deliver all the intended sport- and technical playing values, despite it being installed on a subbase that is different from what it was built on inside the stadium. However, the big gain lies in the fact that this decision allowed for adhering to the principles of sustainable construction, as set by the municipality.
Easy to handle for builders
The very first to notice the change in the ProPlay-Sport20 were the builders of the field. The new ProPlay-Sport20 is 25% lighter than its predecessor. "The summer period means show-time for us. That is when we are expected to deliver, irrespectively. Our builders are expected to build an artificial turf pitch under great time pressure and in hot summer conditions. The lighter the work is for them, the better the end result will be," observes Arjan Emaus of De Sallandse United, the company responsible for the renovation of the main pitch. Thanks to the characteristic puzzle-shape pieces, and the lower weight, it is pleasant to work with the ProPlay-Sport20. "It requires fewer of our employees and it helps us to finish an artificial turf pitch faster."
Futureproof shock pad
ProPlay shock pads come with a 25-year warranty, but the expected lifespan is a multiple of that. Since the manufacturer of the artificial turf has warranted the carpet for at least 12 years, ProPlay-Sport20 will help the municipality of Zwolle to respect its sustainability standards once again when the time comes to renovate the field again. "We can guarantee those 25 years because ProPlay has already proven itself in practice for this period," says Ron Lokhorst. AFC IJburg near Amsterdam is an example of a club that decided to leave the existing ProPlay-Sport20 in place when its artificial turf pitch was renovated. "ProPlay has been installed since the early 1990s, and we are hearing more and more stories from clubs who are still satisfied with the sustained performance of the shock pad." The fact that the new ProPlay-Sport20 now consists of two layers does not affect the lifespan. "Both layers consist of the same basic material and are thermally bonded together. We have been using this method for years to produce sheets from these remnant foam flakes and it has proven itself. Schmitz Foam Products is fully committed to producing shock pads, and we master that process in detail because we have invested a lot in the development of the method."
The developments of the past year have, unexpectedly, shown the importance of continuous innovation when you have the ambition to maintain quality and quantity. COVID-19 also had its impact on Schmitz Foam Products, but due to their experience, preparations and cooperation with suppliers the company was able to proceed with their 24/7 production process and could rely on their stock to fulfil the worldwide demand for shock pads. "Based on, among other things, the forecasts of our partners, we build up stocks in the low season to ensure that we are structurally able to deliver with short delivery times," says Lokhorst.
https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Zwolle-BeQuick-28-LowRes.jpg 919 1600 ESTC https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STC-EMEA.png ESTC2021-01-21 17:44:482021-01-21 17:45:20Evolution of high quality shock pad is ahead of its time
Jason Douglass named new SAPCA Chair
16th December 2020 /Member News, SAPCA /by ESTC
Jason Douglass, Group Director of S&C Slatter, has been appointed Chair of SAPCA for a two-year term. Jason, who was elected at today's Annual General Meeting (15 December), will replace Andy Reed OBE in the role.
Jason is a highly experienced industry professional who has spent over 20 years in the sports construction sector. He joined the SAPCA Board as Chair of the Pitch and Track Divisions at the end of 2019.
Following a challenging year for the industry, Jason is looking forward to leading the association through the next two years and has revealed his intention to take SAPCA to the next level.
"I'm pledging my commitment, my time and my energy to do the very best I can in this very important role," Jason said.
"2020 has been a year of change for everybody and we've seen different types of change – forced and deliberate.
"Among the forced changes have been webinars, video calls and virtual meetings, but it's been interesting to see how some of these changes, which we thought were temporary at the start of the pandemic, may turn out to be permanent – and ones we'll embrace beyond 2020.
"I'm really pleased how SAPCA has adapted to these forced changes during the year and how the association has addressed the challenges.
"The webinar programme has really been embraced by the membership and we also saw the SAPCA Technical Meeting 2020 attract a record number of people. I'm sure the membership would also agree that the greater emphasis on communications from SAPCA has been noticeable over the past few months.
"But there's also an opportunity for deliberate change. I think we, as an association, can either sit back and let change happen to us, or we can implement deliberate change in response to the challenges we're facing.
"Therefore, my vision for SAPCA is deliberate change and progression – built on the foundations of an already strong association.
"One of the areas of change we'll talk about in detail with the membership next year is our board structure. We're going to implement a new system of specific roles and responsibilities for each board member.
"We're going to complete the transition to having skills-led roles and create a SAPCA board which has a dedicated Director for areas such as governance, environmental sustainability, business development and, crucially, for membership.
"Ultimately, I want SAPCA to be at the front of mind when architects, consultants, local authorities and estate managers are looking to procure sports and play facilities.
"I want each SAPCA member to feel they are in an advantageous position over competitors who aren't SAPCA members."
Jason's appointment was welcomed by Andy Reed OBE, who will step down from his role as Chair after three years.
"I'm sure I speak for everyone associated with SAPCA when I say that I look forward to Jason leading SAPCA in its next stage of development," Andy said.
"It will be a period of constant change from the very start and I think Jason will ensure a very strong strategic direction for SAPCA, which stems from his passion for the sector."
Chris Trickey, SAPCA chief executive added: "I have no doubt that Jason's considerable experience and knowledge of the sector will enable him to be a great champion for the sports and play industry, and that his ambition for the Association will certainly help to strengthen SAPCA during the next two years."
https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/jason-douglass.jpg 994 1280 ESTC https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STC-EMEA.png ESTC2020-12-16 10:04:002020-12-16 10:04:00Jason Douglass named new SAPCA Chair
GreenMatter wins Plastics Recycling Award 2020
15th December 2020 /GreenMatter B.V., Member News /by ESTC
GreenMatter signed up for the prestigious award of the Plastics Recycling Award Europe already in September 2019. After the event had already been postponed several times, the award ceremony finally took place beginning of December.
"These prestigious awards are intended to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the European plastics recycling industry. They provide an insight into current developments in the use of recycled materials, product design and innovative manufacturing. The Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2020 received a record number of entries this year. The influx of projects, mainly in the Product Technology category, from across the entire value chain including brand owners, raw material producers and machine and equipment manufacturers testifies to a genuine commitment by all actors to making plastics circular," said Ton Emans, PRE President.
GreenMatter received the award in the category 'Building & Construction Product of the Year'.
GreenMatter is honoured to be named among the great innovators within the recycling industry and sees it as an important recognition from their colleague plastic recyclers that they are on the right track and have brought a beautiful concept to the market.
This award reinforces GreenMatter's mission to reduce the growing artificial grass waste mountain.
https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/greenmatter-award.jpg 798 1181 ESTC https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STC-EMEA.png ESTC2020-12-15 12:28:512020-12-15 12:28:51GreenMatter wins Plastics Recycling Award 2020
Sustainability & Recycling of Synthetic Turf Systems : the Future
25th November 2020 /Sports Labs /by ESTC
THE SYNTHETIC TURF INDUSTRY IS AT A CROSSROAD. WHY?
Public awareness of the damage caused by plastic waste in the environment means that manufacturing strategies that do not reduce the impact of production on the environment will soon become unacceptable. Of course, synthetic turf systems and shock pads will fall under the broad banner of plastic waste and now is the time for the industry to be proactive in embracing sustainability while working towards a more circular manufacturing process.
Reducing the industry's reliance on new plastic materials is a priority. Reusing recycled plastics derived from old turf or other plastic waste, and eventually using a higher percentage of recycled content in new turf and shock pad products, will reduce the industry's overall carbon footprint.
AN INDUSTRY UNDER PRESSURE
We are operating in an industry under pressure right now. Several key issues, such as adverse publicity about potentially harmful chemicals in rubber crumb infill and an ongoing microplastic debate, are just two of the issues. Sustainability and recycling are now hot topics for all businesses involved in this sector.
THE CHALLENGES FOR RECYCLING IN THE INDUSTRY
At the moment, recycling options are not mainstream or available on every continent. As an example, most countries in Europe with the highest volume of artificial turf pitches do not have access to a recycling plant.
We have seen many installers offering repurposing or reuse of materials as a solution, but this is just kicking the can down the road when, ultimately, the old turf becomes someone else's waste to deal with. Old turf is generally end-of-use, so it does not get reused for sport. Its infill can be repurposed and even recycled successfully if cleaned, but it is perceived as low-value. These are just some of the barriers that are beginning to surface.
Targeted funding is a priority to incentivise private companies to set up recycling plants. More importantly, the funding of recycling in public procurement is fundamental to providing a pipeline for plants specialising in turning waste into valuable resources. These could be re-used in sports surfacing and, better still, in a push toward a closed-loop manufacturing process which would be the ultimate goal.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER WITH LEGISLATION
Legislation in waste management is strong, just ask one of those brave companies that have tried to set up recycling plants in Europe. Unfortunately, legislation to force owners to recycle is very weak. Legislators need to be informed so that the correct legislation is applied. The industry needs to lobby and educate in this regard, otherwise the wrong kind of legislation will be applied.
Consumers are becoming savvier all the time. They will put their dollars into what they consider to be sustainable products. The pressure is applied from many sections of society, which will only get stronger, even in the short-term. The industry needs to get ahead of this. There are some positive signs it is responding to pressure, particularly in robust procurement processes.
Education is a priority, and trade organisations are working hard to get the message out that sustainability and recycling should be at the core of your business very soon or you will get left behind – or worse still – go out of business.
REDUCTIONS IN THE GATE FEE FOR RECYCLING
The cost of recycling is a barrier to it. With most things, it rings true that the higher the volume, the lower the cost. So we need key decision-makers and industry role models to push the recycling philosophy.
The location of recycling plants is not conducive to make installers use them as a viable solution to deal with end-of-use turf systems. Transporting filled, heavily rolled up turf thousands of miles is not good for the environment. Carbon emissions to mobilise the turf can be regarded as counterintuitive, so there is a necessity to get more local recycling plants up and running.
DIRTY RECYCLING
Mixed materials and contamination make recycling the plastic component difficult and costly, and the waste product unattractive to plastic recyclers.
In July 2020, we conducted a month-long survey on recycling in the artificial turf industry. Comprising of 32 questions, we had 118 people complete the survey, with at total of 3776 questions answered between them.
THE RECYCLING SURVEY – WHAT DO KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS THINK?
We aimed to identify current limiting factors, such as the availability of recycling plants, the general understanding of recycling, and the available codes of practice to follow. We are sharing this information so we can tackle it as an industry, in a hope we can harness a more environmentally-friendly approach. As an industry, we can do better to educate all stakeholders, improve clarity on terminology, and try to encourage more codes of practice.
Consisting of 12 'role' categories (Q1) we received data on all 8 territorial options (Q2), with Europe having the highest feedback at 43%.
76% of our participants were a member of an association or society in the turf industry (Q3).
Only 33% are aware of codes of practice and alarmingly 29% are members of bodies with no codes (Q4). 56% of participants follow a code of practice (Q5)
The key barriers (Q6) to recycling were Availability of plant, 'Lack of a clear end-of-use for the materials to be recycled', 'No clear reward for recycling (such as in quality-scoring or in winning projects)', 'Cost', 'Legislation', and 'Lack of understanding'.
61% Agree in some form there should be a tax allowance to help offset the expense of recycling (Q7) with 80% selecting recycled material as 'Average Acceptable' to 'Good'. (Q8).
60% of participants are dissatisfied to some degree with the availability of recycling options (Q10). Additionally, 60% of participants are presently dissatisfied to some degree with the level of recycling knowledge within the industry (Q11), with 70% dissatisfied to some degree with the guidance provided by sports global and national governing bodies. (Q12)
62% of participants are dissatisfied to some degree with the quality scoring rating during tender evaluation assigned to recycling. (Q13)
55% of participants end of use process is to reuse and 51% have also selected recycle. (Q14) 91% of participants are active in re-use to recycle to some degree, with 26% operating between 75 – 100% of reuse or recycling practices (Q15). 62% of participants are recycling artificial grass with 47% recycling infill materials. (Q16)
More encouragingly 61% are active in researching and developing their recycling process (Q17)
29% of participants are dissatisfied to some degree that turf is not being managed from site as agreed. (Q18) with 48% having no system in place to check. (Q20).
Local to countrywide transportation of turf to recycling facilities is acceptable. (Q19)
54% of participants have recently read articles in our industry on recycling. (Q22) with 51% dissatisfied to some degree and only 4% satisfied to some degree. (Q24)
Only 34% of participants have recycling plants locally available. (Q25)
86% would you support buying re-used/recycled infill and synthetic materials for new sports facilities. (Q27). 60% believe it is acceptable to pay more for recycled turf to some degree whereas 40% believe it is not. (Q29). 72% believe it is acceptable to pay more to some degree whereas 28% believe it is for existing site materials to be removed and recycled. (Q30)
51% of participants believe the field owner is responsible for funding recycling (Q31) and 57% believe the government plays the most significant role in changing the mindset towards recycling. (Q32)
It would be suggestive that there is a clear terminology issue in our industry between repurposing and recycling.
INVESTORS WILL VOTE WITH THEIR FEET
It is a fact that investment groups, private equity companies, and banks are now scrutinising where they invest their money. If your company is not on a sustainable footing with a good track record of reducing its carbon footprint, it might not be able to attract investment or it can even lose investors. Many corporations are actively working toward a neutral carbon footprint by 2030.
PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW
Synthetic turf has taken a beating in the recent past. Misleading media stories about the alleged harmful effects of materials in tire-derived infill materials hurt the industry. In Europe, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has firmly advocated banning the same infill materials due to a plastics strategy targeting microplastics.
The industry is a hotbed of innovation and we are seeing some great innovation from larger suppliers, and contributions in a smaller context as well. The culture and philosophy of our industry are changing and we need to move quicker.
New materials will become available once they complete their R & D journey through to independent certification, We see many innovative infills that are organic and not classified as microplastics. Turf can be constructed of fewer components that can be separated easier when recycled.
New plastics which are more readily biodegradable will also become available.
Development of organic-based materials will become the norm, although the challenge will always be to prove durability and life expectancy, not only for safety but for performance, too. Many materials are currently in the pilot stage to prove long term stability under varying climatic conditions — this is not a quick process.
New processes will become more economical.
If we crack it, then recycling mixed plastic will be easy for everyone. Our industry could be an example of how to find solutions to recycling problems, which could benefit society in general.
Where there is muck there is brass. It is a fact that waste management companies rarely suffer financial hardship and there are significant opportunities for many sectors in our industry to make money from dealing with its waste.
HIGHER VALUE OUTPUT
The key is to achieve high value from the synthetic turf system. Not easy as the turf component only makes up 11% of a typical 3G pitch. The plastic materials are however valuable and it is by them being mixed that realising that value is difficult. Infill materials can be cleaned and following some testing can be resold within the industry in a truly circular fashion or downcycled to other applications.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
Innovation will solve some of these aforementioned problems and the brightest leaders in the industry will succeed. This will result in less resource-hungry manufacturing, less energy, less carbon – setting a standard for the future of the industry.
Manufacturers should look at their supply chains and procure in as far as possible more sustainable constituents for the manufacture of their turf and shock pad systems. Further, they should identify what is in their product so recyclers have sight of what they are trying to recycle.
An efficient waste collection handling system needs to be set up. Traceability is paramount. The waste must remain 'locally' and be dealt with in the Country.
Technology for separating and cleaning fibres, sand, and rubber crumb exists. It needs to be applied to this sector.
This is an 'all stakeholder' problem. Shifting it to the funder, owner, installer will result in little or no recycling.
Public and private funding should be available for R&D in all sectors which would lead to a circular economy.
Designers and consultants should specify and select products by using sustainability as a matrix in their tender evaluation process and they should insist on recycling end of use turf systems in refurbishment projects.
Owners should be made more aware of what happens to the end of use turf systems, who is handling it, where is it going to be dealt with, is it being recycled and not illegally dumped.
All these things are achievable now.
WHAT WILL 2030 LOOK LIKE FOR THE SYNTHETIC TURF INDUSTRY?
The turf system does not emit microplastic particles into the environment.
Due to extended producer liability, you no longer own the turf you just 'hire' it for the duration of its use, then the producer takes the old one away to be recycled and you get a new one.
The new one you get is produced in a closed-loop circular manufacturing process – where the waste from the old turf is recycled into new products mainly used in sports!
The product is cradle to cradle.
The new turf comes with fully biodegradable infills that go back into the environment in a neutral fashion.
If increased funding is required to take a step towards a more sustainable design and product, then whom in the process should provide the additional finance and should there be new government guidelines to enforce it? It will most likely be led by industry entreprenuers, however the investment level is huge.
We are currently in a period of optional additional costs for good practice versus competitive tendering, and a race to the bottom. Who will take the leap in quality scoring for recyclable, sustainable designs and products seriously enough to force change? Consultants can always include this as best practice, however, we should embrace this as an industry and push legislation as compulsory on design and installation.
It is certainly not impossible to follow a model of classification, such as what we see for fire classification, but should global governing bodies adopt this and start to incorporate it in their product reports? Would this filter down to be adopted by national governing bodies? Having a consistent approach to this would create less confusion.
We enter a period where there is a high number of refurbishments versus new builds. This is related to a high volume of fields being installed around 6 – 10 years ago. So hiring your pitch is a very feasibility proposal.
This ratio will only increase due to countries hitting their threshold of target pitch numbers and then more resurface projects compared to completed new builds.
So how do we go forward? We need a concerted effort from all high-level stakeholders to lobby the governments with the correct information to encourage legislation rather than best practice. This includes global governing bodies, national governing bodies, associations, and leading high volume frameworks that represent our industry.
This does work in tandem with continental legislation and must remain agile to change, for example, we currently await some industry-changing decisions on microplastics and we believe this is only the beginning of the evolution to greener sports surfaces
Article written by Eric O'Donnell, Managing Director at Sports Labs
With survey analysis by Niall MacPhee
https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/sportslabs-picture-rolls-of-turf.jpg 844 1500 ESTC https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STC-EMEA.png ESTC2020-11-25 10:57:522020-11-25 10:57:52Sustainability & Recycling of Synthetic Turf Systems : the Future
Sport Group recycles synthetic turf in the future
25th November 2020 /Polytan GmbH /by ESTC
The Sport Group is one of the world's leading companies in the field of synthetic sports surfaces. With its subsidiary Polytan, the company has a high market share in the construction of artificial turf pitches and running tracks. Now the Bavarian company is also entering the recycling business. The newly founded subsidiary FormaTurf will turn old artificial turf pitches into new products starting next year.
Frank Dittrich, CEO of the Sport Group: "This makes us the only company in our industry to cover the entire artificial turf value chain and close the loop. We develop, we produce, we install, we maintain, we remove and we recycle". The special thing: FormaTurf recycles almost 100 percent of an old artificial turf pitch consisting of the turf carpet, sand and rubber granulate. "We do not see an old artificial turf as garbage, but as a valuable raw material", continues Frank Dittrich. The aim of FormaTurf is to turn the old material into new, durable products. To this end the company is building a new factory in Germany.
In recent years the number of artificial turf pitches in Germany has increased significantly. The service life of the upper layer (lawn carpet, sand, infill granulate) of a pitch is normally between ten and fifteen years. Many pitches have now reached the end of their lifetime or will reach it in the coming years. For this reason, FormaTurf anticipates a sharp increase in the number of recyclable artificial turf pitches in the coming years. This means that large quantities of synthetic material are returning to the resource cycle and can be recycled sensibly. FormaTurf can recycle almost all installed artificial turf systems and is not limited to taking back pitches installed by the Sport Group subsidiary Polytan.
The creation of FormaTurf is another of many steps in the Sport Group's sustainability strategy. Through its subsidiary Polytan, for example, the company offers the first CO2-neutral artificial turf made of renewable raw materials. "We want to be the most sustainable company in our industry. We could not close our eyes to the issue of recycling. I am convinced that our overall concept offers the customer the best possible solution," says Frank Dittrich.
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The continuous ProPlay loop of giving foam a purpose
27th October 2020 /Schmitz Foam /by ESTC
ProPlay shock pads distinguish themselves in many ways, but one aspect that truly makes ProPlay stand out is its respect for the environment. ProPlay is made from redundant foams. Once these foams have been accepted for the production of this shock pad, they will remain in the system and will continuously be used to produce high-quality foam products. ProPlay reduces the need for virgin materials and helps prevent the unnecessary growth of landfills.
Click here to watch a short video on the Schmitz Foam website
Schmitz Foam Products places the environment firmly at the top of all its lists. By taking remnant foams and using them for products that have a meaningful purpose, Schmitz Foam Products prevents tonnes of foam going to waste annually. The plants in Roermond (the Netherlands) and Coldwater (USA) use the latest technologies and skilled employees to separate quality foams and prepare these foams for use in shock pads for different purposes. It has been doing so since the late 80s. The various quality monitoring and guiding principles for this process have been adequately documented. Internal processes to adhere to these principles are verified regularly, most importantly by auditors tasked with verifying the compliance with ISO 9001 and the CE principles.
Likewise, the Schmitz Foam Products protocol for accepting ProPlay sheets that are no longer used for their intended purpose is well-defined and documented. These ProPlay sheets can be handed back to Schmitz Foam Products to grant these sheets a purpose again in other applications. 'It is a responsibility we take as the manufacturer but it is also something we can and like to do without even worrying too much about its condition,' says Ron Moors, Plant Manager at Schmitz Foam Products. ProPlay sheets that have been handed in will be cleaned and either reused for other applications or recycled for the production of new high-quality foam products.
Reuse prevails over recycle
The Schmitz Foam Products' recycling philosophy aims to reuse whatever possible before recycling is considered as an alternative. The company will go to great lengths to see whether ProPlay sheets that have been reclaimed can still serve a purpose elsewhere. Tests are conducted to establish the performance and quality of the sheets and to determine whether they could serve another purpose in a sports field or, perhaps, should be used in multi-game areas or for other drainage or shock absorbing purposes. Only once it is established that this is not the case will the ProPlay sheets be recycled.
'Recycling the foam is really a last resort as, generally speaking, the foam is still in good condition. However, sports governing bodies are very strict regarding the constant technical performance they expect the material to deliver for a particular sport. We do not want to put that at risk. Nevertheless, they are still good enough for other purposes like drainage mats for roof gardens, horse riding arenas or as cow mats, as the drainage capacity of the material is still very good,' Moors explains.
Proper thing to do
Sending the sheets back to Schmitz Foam Products will be the responsibility of the company that possesses the sheets. Schmitz Foam Products can provide pallets to enable smooth shipping. 'Schmitz Foam Products accepts the sheets at no cost. We believe it is the right thing to do in a time where the environment is carefully considered,' Moors points out.
With the protocol in place since 2012, the option of returning ProPlay sheets to Schmitz Foam Products has, thus far, been used sparsely. 'In light of the lasting performance of ProPlay sheets that can go up to 25 years, it is understandable that we have only been offered a few sheets for recycling. Most of the sheets we have produced up till now are still being used in artificial turf systems. Once they cross their 25th anniversary, I wouldn't be surprised if they still perform according to the needs.' As the recyclability of artificial turf is increasingly becoming an issue, Schmitz Foam Products have decided to actively pursue the ambition of giving foams a second opportunity by also accepting shock pads from other producers for recycling purposes. Provided the shock pad is made from cross-linked polyethylene it can be offered to Schmitz Foam Products to have it recycled for another purpose. 'These shock pads are made of the same raw material that we use for the production of ProPlay, hence we can easily process them in our production,' Moors adds.
Endless cycle
Giving used ProPlay sheets a new lease of life is something that can be done multiple times. 'The performance degradation is very limited. That is why we are comfortable claiming that even once ProPlay is no longer delivering what is needed for sports, it can still have a useful purpose in other applications.' Much of the ability to extend the lifespan of the foam can be attributed to Schmitz Foam's long-time experience and extensive knowledge of polyethylene foams.
The quality of ProPlay sheets is unrivaled and well-documented. Don't be surprised when it outlives the artificial turf carpet that has been used for the field. Even when it is decided to replace a sheet or the shock absorbing layer of an entire field, ProPlay can still have a meaningful purpose. By shipping those sheets back to Schmitz Foam Products you will lay the foundation of another period of unrivaled shock absorbing and drainage qualities.
Check out the short video on the website to get the full story in less than 2 minutes via https://www.schmitzfoam.com/sustainability-and-recycling
https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Visual-play-symbol3.jpg 600 900 ESTC https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STC-EMEA.png ESTC2020-10-27 10:22:102020-10-29 12:24:57The continuous ProPlay loop of giving foam a purpose
Webinar European development towards biodegradable polymers
23rd October 2020 /Senbis Polymer Innovations B.V. /by ESTC
On the 28th of October Senbis Polymer Innovations will co-host a Chemport Europe webinar on the market opportunities for innovations with biodegradable polymers due to a microplastic legislation proposal by the European Chemicals Agency. As an example case for the artificial grass market, Ten Cate Grass executives will elaborate their approach.
Register via: https://lnkd.in/gSS9W_P
https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/webinar-senbis.png 685 829 ESTC https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STC-EMEA.png ESTC2020-10-23 09:13:212020-10-23 09:13:21Webinar European development towards biodegradable polymers
Limonta Sport obtains certification for 100% natural infill
1st October 2020 /Limonta Sport SpA /by ESTC
Limonta Sport obtained the OK BIOBASE and OK BIODEGRADABLE certification from the TÜV Austria Institute for their GEO, a 100% natural performance infill. Andrea Marcassoli, R&D Manager explains : "A certification based on European standards EN13432 and EN14995 relating to compostability confirms that GEO is 100% biodegradable in the soil, and EN16640 on which the tests were based, gives GEO the 4-star BIOBASED label, which is the maximum rating, as it is made up of 100% renewable raw materials. "
Revolutionary and cutting edge, GEO consists exclusively of a mixture of organic plant material, derived from defibration of woody plants, that have been carefully chosen and processed with an innovative process. The result is a 100% natural and biodegradable infill because it is free from foreign materials, which ensures maximum performance and unparalleled athlete safety. The organic material used is essential for playability as it gives the pitch biomechanical features that allow players to make fluid and natural changes in direction. Geo adds to the technical advantages provided by Limonta Sport's artificial turf, the comfort of natural grass, making it an ideal product for a pitch that maintains excellent performance, safety and endurance parameters over time so the athletes can focus on the game without adjusting their style.
That's the reason why, since its introduction on the market in 2000, with over 500 installations, GEO has been selected by clubs like AC Milan, FC Internazionale, Athletic Bilbao, Spartak Moscow, Rubin Kazan, Astana Arena, Galatasaray and Worcester Warriors.
https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/LimontaSport_GEO_INFILL-scaled-e1668187216576.jpg 801 1200 ESTC https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STC-EMEA.png ESTC2020-10-01 18:50:502020-10-01 18:50:50Limonta Sport obtains certification for 100% natural infill
GBN AGR officially certified to recycle end-of-use synthetic turf
25th September 2020 /GBN, Member News /by ESTC Communications
GBN AGR has received the first unique certificate for the recycling process of End of Life artificial grass from Kiwa.
The certification process is conducted by quality assurance institute Kiwa. Kiwa is an autonomous global organization in Testing, Inspection and Certification. Kiwa is strictly independent and not involved in manufacturing, trading or other activities that might endanger the impartiality. Jan Klapwijk, Unit Manager at Kiwa, explains: "The certification is brand new, as the plant of GBN-AGR is the first synthetic turf recycling plant in the Netherlands. In the absence of any other synthetic turf recycler operating in the Netherlands, we had to define a new way to certify recyclers of synthetic turf. Therefore, we opted to write down all commitments GBN-AGR makes and the processes they promise they will follow. Compliance will be established twice a year."
With operations having commenced earlier this year, certifying that GBN-AGR works according to defined processes and adheres to all steps defined is a vital step in the quality assurance process. "It is important that we are transparent and that our clients know upfront how their old synthetic turf will be processed, as well as them receiving confirmation the old turf has been processed the way it was intended," says Director Eric van Roekel. "We are able to prove how many old synthetic turf fields we have accepted for processing, that they have been processed, and how much raw material we collected at the end of the process."
The certificate that GBN AGR received guarantees the circular processing of End of Life artificial grass by GBN AGR. It also certifies the high-quality circular raw materials that are produced, such as SBR Rubber granulate, TPE Rubber and Infill sand.
GBN AGR offers full guarantee, transparency and sets the benchmark for circular processing and a consistent supply of high quality, circular raw materials.
A circular economy….. it's necassary, it's possible and GBN AGR does it!
https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/unnamed-3.png 531 422 ESTC Communications https://www.estc.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STC-EMEA.png ESTC Communications2020-09-25 16:44:302020-09-25 16:53:53GBN AGR officially certified to recycle end-of-use synthetic turf


See all the details of Alisons upcoming Webinar on Baby Sleep by following the link below. When you register you will be sent all the instructions on how to join. Special introductory offer, just £10 per person.
Does Your Child Wake Up in the Night?
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