Green Party MP Joëlle Welfring has called the government’s stance on handling polymers “disappointing”, voicing dissatisfaction with Sport Minister Martine Hansen’s response to her parliamentary questions on artificial sports pitches.
Welfring had asked Minister Hansen how many artificial sports pitches exist in Luxembourg and whether municipalities receive information from the ministry about such pitches or alternatives. According to the minister’s reply, municipalities and clubs receive no advice and are largely left to their own choices. The responsibility lies with the developer, the minister said, adding that the total number of artificial pitches in the country is unknown.
Welfring described the matter as complex and noted that parents have expressed concerns about children’s health when playing on such pitches. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Sport maintains it is not responsible.
The Water Management Authority, which recently approved an artificial football pitch in a flood zone in Useldange, sets its own conditions. However, it confirmed to RTL that the water law lacks concrete guidelines and limit values for handling microplastics.
Green Party MEP Tilly Metz said the largest known source of intentionally released microplastic pollution is sports pitches, at around 16,000 tonnes. The EU is taking step-by-step action against polymers on artificial pitches, with a complete ban from 17 October 2031. Existing pitches may continue to be used.
Alternatives should be explored, Metz said, but research must take priority. Studies are needed on the direct impact on human health, she added, while the harm to nature and species has already been proven.
Welfring said an initiative by the previous government in 2022 to completely avoid single-use plastic is being scaled back, with extended deadlines. She maintained that the government must not abandon municipalities in their choice of sports pitches, whether artificial or natural, in the interest of human health and the environment.
