Turf War: Crumb Rubber Vs. Cork in Sports Surfaces

When researching the best material to support a turf field, playground, or other sports surface, you’ll quickly discover that crumb rubber is a long-time industry favorite. You might also see new, alternative materials making their debut on the market. One material getting particular attention these days is cork, which is often presented as an “eco-friendly” alternative to crumb rubber. 

So how does crumb rubber stack up against this newcomer cork? We compare the two materials across key categories—durability, safety, price, and sustainability—and explain why crumb rubber is still the superior choice. 

Durability 

Crumb rubber is a particularly durable material—it can withstand a range of temperatures, heavy rain, and other inclement weather. Cork, on the other hand, is particularly susceptible to cracks, especially in climates with excessive rain or freezing temperatures. According to a report commissioned for Loudoun County, Virginia, cork is known for “early degradation and floating of particles” and is not expected to last beyond 8 years, whereas crumb rubber is known to last longer than 12. 

Safety 

The safety of playground and sports surfaces is evaluated according to ASTM standards, which determine the surface’s “critical fall height”—in other words, from what height one could fall and avoid severe head injury. Crumb rubber playground surfaces are commonly ASTM-certified with a fall height of 12 or 16 ft. Cork, on the other hand, has a fall height of only 8 ft. Rubber can withstand more force, which makes it a safer option for protecting children and adults from serious injuries. 

Price 

Crumb rubber is also more affordable than cork. Cork has few distributors in the U.S. and remains one of the more expensive options for sports surfaces. In the same report for Loudoun County mentioned above, county officials found that cork would be 24% more expensive than crumb rubber over 12 years. When you consider that cork is significantly more costly than crumb rubber upfront, while also lasting for a shorter time, the new material appears to be far less attractive for cost-constrained schools and governments. 

Sustainability 

But what about cork’s claim to fame as an environmentally friendly, organic material? While cork infill and playground surfacing can technically be recycled, the original cork itself is not made from recycled material. Instead, this cork comes directly from tree bark. This makes cork a “natural” material, but it also means that cork surfaces can only be made by chopping down trees. Recycled rubber, on the other hand, may be “synthetic,” but it’s actually more sustainable: since crumb rubber comes from tires, it keeps an old material circulating rather than ending up in a landfill. What’s “natural” is not always what’s best for nature. 

When looking at durability, safety, price, and sustainability, it appears that crumb rubber has won this match!