breaking new ground - trial of new low carbon foamix product complete

Manufactured by Aggregate Industries, this milestone marks a significant achievement in the pursuit of 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 undertaken further development of 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 the use of carbon offsetting, supporting National Highways’ target to deliver net zero construction by 2040.

Image

After rigorous research and development processes, coupled with 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 it is even possible to achieve a negative carbon footprint on projects 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 CO 2 e per tonne across Scope A1-A3 emission thanks to the new product mix and use of onsite mobile plant production and installation.

Carbon neutral Foamix can be used in conjunction with our SuperLow Carbon asphalt to deliver a ultra low carbon pavement. The illustration below highlights the potential pavement saving our systems could bring to your scheme.

Image

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 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 not only provides a cutting-edge solution for construction projects but also represents the first potentially carbon-neutral asphalt solution within the construction industry. This achievement aligns with the commitment to increase the use of Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) by 60 per cent 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 the way construction projects are carried out, 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. For more information on Aggregate Industries, visit aggregate.com.