TrafficMaster · Artificial Turf
TrafficMaster Heavyweight Emerald Green Artificial Grass Turf
Wait for coating composition. Most synthetic turf uses water-resistant treatments.
Artificial grass typically requires water-resistant coatings. Act Global won't disclose chemicals used, and most synthetic turf waterproofing treatments contain PFAS.
The better-graded swap
FloorEXP
FloorEXP Event Synthetic Grass Roll
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polypropylene/polyethylene base with unknown water/stain-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What TrafficMaster Heavyweight Emerald Green is made of, ingredients and materials
TrafficMaster Heavyweight uses a polypropylene or polyethylene-blend backing with synthetic fiber face (typically polypropylene or polyethylene yarn). The critical unknown is the coating applied for water and stain resistance; these coatings in synthetic turf commonly use water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatments, many of which historically contained PFAS compounds like PFOA or its replacements. The base polymers themselves are not inherently hazardous when unheated, but the coating composition directly determines off-gassing risk and leaching potential into soil or water during outdoor installation.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Synthetic turf industry standard is to apply water-repellent coating finishes; historical products used PFAS, and many current formulations do as well. Act Global has not disclosed whether TrafficMaster uses legacy PFAS, Gen-X replacements, or PFAS-free alternatives. This is the dominant unknown hazard.
Source, ATSDR ↗Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from backing or adhesives
Polypropylene and polyethylene backings with synthetic adhesives can emit small amounts of VOCs, especially in warm weather or direct sun. Outdoor installation mitigates exposure, but off-gassing may persist for weeks to months after installation.
Microplastic shedding from fiber wear
Artificial grass fibers degrade over time, particularly under foot traffic or UV exposure, shedding microplastics into surrounding soil and water. TrafficMaster is not uniquely prone, but the issue is documented across the category and should be managed via regular vacuuming and proper drainage containment.
Flame retardants
Some artificial turf backings include flame retardants to meet indoor or commercial flammability codes, though outdoor residential products are less commonly treated. Act Global has not disclosed whether TrafficMaster uses flame retardants; if applied, these are typically brominated or phosphorus-based and may leach in wet conditions.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
No recalls or public reports of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in TrafficMaster artificial grass. Emerald green dyes are typically azo-based polymeric colorants with low bioavailability, but testing data specific to this product has not been published.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Act Global (TrafficMaster's parent) has not publicly disclosed the specific water-resistant coating chemistry or made binding commitments to PFAS-free formulations. No major safety recalls or certifications (e.g., GreenGuard, Cradle to Cradle) are documented for this specific product line. The silence on coating ingredients is the primary gap; responsible synthetic turf makers increasingly publish third-party test results or certifications excluding PFAS, which TrafficMaster has not done.
How it compares in its category
Synthetic turf as a category sits in a gray zone, it avoids pesticide/fertilizer hazards of real grass but introduces polymer off-gassing and coating questions. TrafficMaster is a mass-market, budget-friendly option; premium competitors (e.g., some brands sold through landscape supply houses) more often publish PFAS test results or use PFAS-free coatings. Budget-tier artificial grass typically lacks this transparency, making TrafficMaster representative of the lower-disclosure end of the market.
If you buy it
Request the safety data sheet (SDS) for the coating from the seller or manufacturer; if unavailable, that is a red flag suggesting the coating composition is proprietary or unstandardized. Installation outdoors on permeable substrate (not directly on soil that drains into groundwater) reduces leaching concern but does not eliminate off-gassing of volatile coating components in heat. Do not install in direct contact with drinking water sources or vegetable gardens. Monitor for fiber shedding or coating degradation over 5-10 years, especially in high-UV or salt-spray environments, as breakdown may accelerate leaching.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- TrafficMaster has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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- VOC off-gassing from polyurethane or latex adhesive
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More artificial turf grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.