Rockpore Awarded ISK 50 Million Vöxtur Grant – Scaling Arctic Greenstone in Iceland

Reykjavík, July 2025 – Rockpore has been awarded ISK 50 million from the 2025 Vöxtur Technology Development Fund, administered by Rannís – The Icelandic Centre for Research, to support our flagship project:

🎯 “Carbon-Negative Infill for Artificial Turf: Football Pitches as Carbon Sinks.”

This project marks a major milestone in our go-to-market strategy for the Arctic Series — a family of circular, climate-positive materials designed to replace fossil-based infill and construction materials across Europe.

Iceland: Launchpad for Arctic Greenstone

With a total project budget of ISK 84.9 million and close collaboration with Iceland Eco-Business Park, Rockpore is deploying a unique methodology to bridge the scale-up gap — moving from lab validation to 20,000 tonnes of annual production capacity for Arctic Greenstone in Iceland.

Arctic Greenstone is a next-generation, circular infill for synthetic turf made from upcycled industrial residues and engineered for high durability, low environmental impact, and CO₂-reactive performance. It enables artificial turf systems to contribute positively to environmental sustainability while delivering premium performance.

A Market-Driven Mission

Rockpore’s ambition is clear: to become the market leader in Europe’s 200,000-tonne infill market, with a mission to replace rubber crumbs in synthetic turf systems with safe, sustainable, and circular alternatives.

This aligns with emerging EU regulations phasing out microplastics and growing demand for environmentally responsible materials in sport and infrastructure projects. The infill market is valued at more than €60 million annually, presenting a major opportunity for impact and growth.

First Pilot Pitch Planned 2026

Later this fall, Rockpore will launch plans for the first full-scale pilot pitch in Iceland or Norway, using Arctic Greenstone as the infill material. The pitch is scheduled for installation in 2026 and will be ready for use during the 2026/27 winter season. This pilot will serve as a key reference project for validating performance, durability, and circular value under Nordic climate conditions.

“The Vöxtur grant is a vote of confidence in our strategy to scale up sustainable materials in real markets. With Iceland as our testbed, we’re proving that industrial upcycling, carbon capture, and green growth can go hand in hand.”— Rockpore CEO

Next Step: Production Decision in 2025

A final investment decision for the full-scale production facility is expected later this year. This will mark the next leap forward in Rockpore’s mission to create a zero-waste, carbon-negative materials industry — starting in Iceland and scaling across Europe.