Notts Sport has revealed CocoTurf Cricket, the first artificial cricket surface crafted entirely from natural materials and completely free from plastics. As one of the UK’s most longstanding innovators in sports surfacing, the company has created a system intended to advance sustainable design within the game.
Building on its established CocoTurf technology, the new cricket-focused system has been redeveloped to satisfy the sport’s performance requirements. Featuring coconut fibre yarn, jute reinforcement and natural latex, the surface removes plastics, microplastics and PFAS from its construction. This breakthrough marks the world’s first artificial cricket wicket made solely from natural materials and represents a significant shift in environmentally conscious facility development.
The first installation has been completed at Lord’s Cricket Ground, offering a practical demonstration of how top-level venues are beginning to move towards natural alternatives. The wicket has undergone extensive testing, including a Ball Pitch Impact Assessment, confirming its steady bounce, authentic pace and durability comparable to traditionally prepared non-turf pitches. An application is currently being processed by the ECB, paving the way for broader approval among clubs, schools and cricket boards.
CocoTurf Cricket emerges at a time when concerns surrounding synthetic materials, including microplastic release and PFAS contamination, are gaining wider attention. The new system provides a cleaner, future-oriented solution, backed by Oeko-Tex certification, full recyclability, a 1,300 g/m² pile density and a water infiltration rate of 15,166 mm/hr, ensuring year-round consistency.
Each square metre of the system uses the fibres of around 6.5 coconuts, totalling approximately 585 coconuts for a full single-lane wicket. This allows natural by-products to be repurposed into high-performance playing surfaces, reducing dependence on petrochemical-derived products. The technology is protected under International Patent Application No. PCT/GB2024/050422 (pending).
Duncan Bennett, CEO of Notts Sport, said: “CocoTurf Cricket is a genuine breakthrough for cricket facilities. For the first time, the sport has access to an artificial surface that performs like a professionally prepared pitch but is made entirely from natural materials. This is a major step toward eliminating plastics from non-turf systems and creating facilities that protect both players and the environment.”
Adam Walker, Technical Manager at Notts Sport, added: “We engineered CocoTurf Cricket with players in mind, but with absolute commitment to sustainability. This surface shows that you no longer have to choose between performance and environmental responsibility — you can have both.”
With more than 40 years shaping cricket facility solutions both domestically and internationally, Notts Sport continues to lead the field in innovation and sustainable sports surfacing.
