New circular economy records have been set with the business’ Asphalt division’s work to repurpose recycled aggregate materials into a new surfacing material for roads and pavements, with zero compromise on quality and product performance. 

The team is now working with non-hazardous, contaminated waste material to produce binder course made up of >95% recycled materials. The waste material is first carefully studied to gain an intricate understanding of its qualities, before it is cleaned, crushed and re-graded into recognised asphalt aggregate constituents. 

Starting with 20mm all-in aggregates, the recycled material is fed into the asphalt plant process with a 40% recycled content 5% of which is recycled bitumen. The mix was designed so only the only non-recycled component left was the residual bitumen, aiding the company’s mission of achieving 100% recycled asphalt. 

Michelle Addison, Midlands Key Account Manager for Asphalt for Aggregate Industries, division comments: “Throughout our entire business we place circularity at our core and in line with this, year on year, the proportion of recycled asphalt we use has increased. 

“As natural resources become more scarce, all areas of construction need to be making strides to build new from old. While we have already for some time been regularly using reclaimed asphalt, we can now incorporate what was once considered a waste material into the process. The only element left to conquer is the 3-5% of virgin bitumen in the end product, something that our experts have their sights firmly set on.”

For further information, please visit aggregate.com.

About Aggregate Industries

Aggregate Industries is delivering growth through sustainable thinking. Committed to playing a significant role in enabling the UK to transition to net zero, Aggregate Industries is driving decarbonisation across the construction materials sector. With a broad, established range of low carbon solutions and a focus on the circular economy, Aggregate Industries continues to invest in R&D and innovation, working in partnership with sustainability-focused stakeholders, with the goal of becoming the UK’s leading supplier of sustainable construction materials. It is the first company to be certificated to BES 6001, The Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products, developed by the BRE (Building Research Establishment).

About Holcim

Holcim is a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions with net sales of CHF 29.2 billion in 2022. Driven by its purpose to build progress for people and the planet, its 60,000 employees are on a mission to decarbonize building, while improving living standards for all. The company empowers its customers across all regions to build better with less, with its broad range of low-carbon and circular solutions, from ECOPact to ECOPlanet. With its innovative systems, from Elevate roofing to PRB’s insulation, Holcim makes buildings more sustainable in use, driving energy efficiency and green retrofitting. With sustainability at the core of its strategy, Holcim is becoming a net-zero company with 1.5°C targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Learn more about Holcim on www.holcim.com, and by following us on LinkedIn.