Turf Zero
The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to either zero or net zero, or very close to these targets, in the provision of a turfgrass surface or facility. This can be used as a contributory factor or indicator in determining the sustainability of a surface or site, although there are some reservations about its use as given below.
The entire grounds environment could be used within the calculation of turf zero as surrounding greenspace might absorb additional carbon dioxide which is emitted from the maintenance of a turfgrass surface, even after significant reductions within the maintenance practices themselves has taken place. So, the outcome might be that reductions from turf maintenance activities have been significant, but not entirely eliminated, yet with the potential absorbing capacity of the surrounding environment (being in the total area which is managed) the overall balance is net zero emissions.
To reduce the charge of greenwashing, or similar, it is important to highlight the reductions undertaken with the remaining balance of emissions and the amount of CO2 which has been estimated to have been absorbed by the surrounding environment. A key reason why this is important is that for some large areas, such as golf courses, a significant quantity of absorption of CO2 might be calculated for woodland and grassland or rough which is within the boundary of the golf course, yet the relatively small area of more intensively maintained grass surfaces only see small, limited, reductions yet overall the calculations for the surrounding environment is used to effectively hide this if only a single bottom line figure is provided. This is a disingenuous use of this approach and needs to be called out and organisations given the opportunity to reassess their approach to avoid reputational embarrassment or damage from occurring.