Aggregate Industries has successfully trialled its new, innovative Foamix product – a revolutionary lower-carbon pavement construction, repair and maintenance solution.
The milestone marks a significant achievement in pursuing sustainable asphalt and eco-friendly infrastructure within the construction industry.
Trialled on the M65 slip road in Lancashire, the new Foamix solution is a cold recycled bitumen-bound material meticulously manufactured with negative carbon aggregates and biogenic bitumen throughout the process. The outcome is a cost-effective, high-quality solution that recycles the existing carriageway, offering a net zero solution production process and a highly sustainable option for asphalt construction projects.
Already well-established within the industry as a replacement for traditional asphalt and cementitious materials, Foamix has been widely recognised for delivering a very low carbon footprint due to its cold process and recycled content. Making it an ideal choice for achieving a circular economy within construction.
Building upon this success, Aggregate Industries has further developed Foamix by incorporating carbon-negative aggregates and a biogenic binder. The trial has successfully delivered a carbon-neutral asphalt solution, with net zero embodied carbon emissions cradle to gate (Scope A1-A3), without using carbon offsetting, supporting National Highways' target to deliver net zero construction by 2040.
After rigorous research and development processes and live manufacturing and installation trials in partnership with Lancashire County Council, the new carbon-neutral Foamix is the most sustainable and lowest carbon asphalt construction material to date and represents a remarkably sustainable alternative compared to traditional methods. With this product, achieving a negative carbon footprint on projects is possible when reusing the planings onsite.
Whilst Aggregate Industries' current Foamix solution already delivers a low embodied carbon footprint, the newly developed Foamix option has achieved a reduction to Net Zero CO2e per tonne across Scope A1-A3 emissions thanks to the new product mix and use of onsite mobile plant production and installation.
Foamix can be used with Aggregate Industries' SuperLow Carbon asphalt to deliver ultra-low carbon pavement.
Commenting on the successful trial, Thomas Edgcumbe, Surfacing Solutions managing director at Aggregate Industries, said: "We are delighted with the recent successful trial of our new carbon-neutral Foamix product and are immensely proud to have partnered with Lancashire County Council and supply chain on this project. This sets a new standard for sustainable construction materials, with the use of onsite production and a high percentage of RAP, allowing us to build a circular economy. The successful outcome and development demonstrate our steadfast commitment to leading the construction industry towards a more sustainable and eco-conscious future."
Speaking on behalf of Lancashire County Council, Paul Binks, Highways Asset manager, said: "As part of our ongoing drive to reduce carbon across our highway network, recycling of our existing roads back into new roads has always been one of our main drivers. The Foamix supplied by Aggregate Industries is being used successfully throughout the county, and this latest innovation is the next generation, which will see a further reduction of carbon emissions across the network."
The successful trial of the new carbon-neutral Foamix marks a groundbreaking moment, as it provides a cutting-edge solution for construction projects and represents the first potentially carbon-neutral asphalt solution within the construction industry. This achievement aligns with the commitment to increase Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) use by 60% in asphalt products as part of Aggregate Industries' overall drive to achieve net zero before 2050.
This evolution in cold-lay asphalt is set to revolutionise construction projects, enabling a more sustainable approach while maintaining high-quality standards and cost-effectiveness. By adopting carbon-neutral Foamix, construction companies and local authorities can actively contribute to a greener future while meeting their infrastructure needs.
For more information on Foamix, visit aggregate.com/foamix.
