To Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Underbelly Edinburgh, Assembly Festival, and Pleasance Theatre Trust, 

We, the undersigned Edinburgh Fringe (EdFringe) attendees and concerned citizens are calling on you to replace plastic grass at EdFringe venues with one of many creative, sustainable alternatives by EdFringe 2026. 

Many EdFringe outdoor venues (including Bristo Square, George Square Gardens, Zoo Playground, Zoo Southside, and Hunter Square) are covered in planet-warming plastic grass that sheds microplastics and leaches chemicals of concern (COCs) into our air, soil, and water. Studies estimate over 12% of global microplastic pollution comes from plastic grass fibres, and further research shows chemicals leached from plastic grass can cause endocrine, cardio-metabolic, and neurological toxicity. The polypropylene in plastic grass is also made from crude oil, emitting planet-warming greenhouse gases through manufacturing and transportation. We all care about EdFringe and want to celebrate the arts without plastic grass putting both our bodies and our planet at risk. 

Our sustainable solution(s) to plastic grass at EdFringe venues are reusable permeable paver mats, CocoTurf, coir/coconut fibre mats, or jute/sisal outdoor carpets, as they can still prevent mud formation from heavy foot traffic. In venues where plastic grass is laid over solid pavement, we advocate removing the plastic grass and either leaving the concrete uncovered or covering it with festively-coloured coir/jute/sisal outdoor carpets.

We note that the Underbelly venue Circus Hub at the Meadows already uses permeable paver mat pathways over the park grass without the need for any plastic grass. We ask Underbelly and the other EdFringe organisers to expand the same sustainable, accessible pathways to George Square Gardens and any other EdFringe venues over natural grass at EdFringe 2026.

It is critical EdFringe organisers replace the plastic grass covering their venues with sustainable alternatives by EdFringe 2026. Jute/sisal outdoor carpets, CocoTurf, and permeable paver mats provide equivalent safety, accessibility, and aesthetics without the microplastic, chemical, and carbon pollution. The health of EdFringe attendees, Edinburgh’s citizens, and the environment will remain at risk until EdFringe organisers stop unnecessarily exposing us to plastic grass pollutants.