• by Tanya Gazdik , May 14, 2015

Scott’s Miracle-Gro is launching a campaign in reaction to the 2015 Women’s World Cup being played on artificial turf instead of natural grass.

While Scott’s can’t alter the decision for this upcoming World Cup, it can take a stand now for what’s right in the future. The company is taking the stand that soccer, along with all recreational activities, should be enjoyed on real grass, not an imitation, says Chris Strunk, director, marketing promotions and communications at Scott’s. 

Themed “Keep it Real,” Scott’s is asking for consumers to join a movement they have created via a Tumblr page. The more consumers that share the #KeepItReal message on Twitter and Instagram, the more youth natural green spaces Scott’s will refurbish across the country. The soccer tournament kicks off the first week in June.

“Soccer is a worldwide sport watched and played by audiences of all ages,” Strunk says. “This program isn’t specifically targeted to one demographic or geographic region –- it’s an issue that impacts the health of the players, the environment and the climate in which artificial turf fields have been built.”

Scott’s has partnered with soccer star Abby Wambach, who has created a video about her support of playing soccer on real grass.

“We partnered with women’s soccer star Abby Wambach for the ‘Keep It Real’ program given her personal connection to the topic of natural grass vs artificial turf,” Strunk says. “Plus, she had an interest and Scott’s had the platform to join forces in supporting refurbishing some real grass playing surfaces for our youth across America.”   

The topic and education on the importance of natural green spaces shared on the “Keep It Real” site affects our youth, their parents who have concern about their child’s safety and the millions of Americans that enjoy soccer both competitively and socially, as well as, all other individuals that enjoy recreational activities on natural green spaces. 

“The 'Keep It Real' initiative was our way of making a stand now for the future of soccer that the surface athletes play on is just as important as how they play the game,” Strunk says. “Playing on natural grass encompasses the purity of the game; it also helps players across the globe avoid more serious injuries. At the end of the day, soccer is game meant for natural grass and real, green grass makes the game more fun and that is the message we are educating consumer’s on.”