Redbridge first in London to trial groundbreaking new asphalt that makes road resurfacing greener

A road resurfacing scheme in London has used anew material that has enabled the city to lay asphalt with a significantly lower carbon footprint.

Redbridge Council in partnership with Kensons Highways have used a new type of asphalt for the resurfacing works at Lodge Hill Road in Redbridge. The asphalt mix supplied by Tarmac significantly lowers the project’s carbon footprint by incorporating a carbon negative aggregate, named ACLA^®.

Every tonne of ACLA^® produced has permanently removed 748 kg of CO₂e from the atmosphere. ACLA^® was used in the binder course asphalt of the resurfacing, which ensured the entire middle layer of the road was net zero, as well as significantly lowering the overall project's carbon footprint.

The product was designed and manufactured byEarthshot Prize finalist climate tech company Low Carbon Materials(LCM). It works by sequestration, capturing and storing carbondioxide to permanently remove it and locking it in the resultingroad.

Using ACLA^®, Tarmac’s asphalt reduced the project's carbon footprint by 68% (equivalent to an average UK car driving 17,400 miles or approximately a round trip to Los Angeles for two people), further enhanced by incorporating Recycled Asphalt Planings (RAP) for a more circular approach.

This significant announcement follows shortly after ACLA^® was used in a road resurfacing project, in County Durham.

Redbridge Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Jo Blackman, said: “Redbridge is always striving to find innovative ways to reduce our emissions. We’re proud to be the first London borough partnering with Kensons, Low Carbon Materials, and Tarmac to deliver this pioneering new trial.  We’re not only committed to improving the quality of our roads but also reducing the emissions associated with the resurfacing process. This trial is another step towards reducing our carbon footprint to become a cleaner and greener Redbridge.”

David Shelley, Director for Kenson Highways, said: “We initially encountered Low Carbon Materials at the Highways UK show. Upon investigating the product, we quickly realised its potential interest for Redbridge. Our ongoing collaboration with Redbridge aims to identify methods to reduce carbon emissions, and this initiative represents one of several efforts to decrease emissions throughout the borough. Kenson Highways is proud to have contributed to this trial and remains committed to supporting the reduction of carbon footprints in both current and future projects.”

Tim Smith, Senior Technical Manager (SouthEast) at Tarmac added: “There has never been a more important time to explore innovative, carbon-saving solutions and materials. By collaborating with supply chain and industry partners on this project we have demonstrated what's possible in delivering greener roads. It’s crucial that the learnings from this project help to inform further decarbonisation of the road network.”

Natasha Boulding, CEO of LCM said “I’m proud to have collaborated with pioneers Redbridge Council, Kensons Highways and Tarmac on this first-of-its-kind scheme in London to see ACLA ® used to unlock net zero asphalt. This project offers a blueprint for best-practice and a clear roadmap for dramatically reducing the environmental impact of road construction and maintenance.”

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