Building new from old: How the circular economy is driving innovation in asphalt
First published in the January 2025 issue of Quarry Management
Daniel King, managing director of the asphalt business at Aggregate Industries, talks about the investments being made to drive innovation in asphalt technology and how a circular economy is one of the solutions to decarbonization of the sector
2024 was a tough year for the UK construction industry. Alongside the usual stressors of rising import costs, fluctuating order books, and tighter budgets, we’ve also had to navigate the first change of government in more than 14 years. On top of this the increasing impact of the climate crisis is wreaking havoc on our road system, with higher rainfall and more extreme temperature fluctuations causing multiple failures across our asphalt network.
At Aggregate Industries, we believe our role as a manufacturer extends far beyond the production of our products. We recognize the impact we have on the environment and the opportunity we have to protect the planet for future generations. Our mission is to become the UK’s leader in innovation and sustainable building solutions, and achieve Net Zero before 2050.
The equivalent of a city the size of New York City is being built every month due to rapid population growth and urbanization, so it is imperative that we adopt innovative solutions that balance environmental preservation with the needs of expanding towns and cities.
In 2022 we launched our own sustainability strategy and it remains the guiding principle for everything we do – no less than you would expect from a member of the Holcim Group – the global leader in innovative and sustainable construction solutions.
Our focus on circularity is just one of the ways we are driving change. A circular economy represents a significant shift from traditional linear economic models, focusing on reducing waste and promoting the reuse of resources. This key concept advocates for a sustainable cycle where materials are continuously repurposed.
At Aggregate Industries, circularity is at the core of everything we do, helping to create a more sustainable future with materials that are responsibly sourced, energy efficient, and environmentally friendly.
Through innovation and technical excellence, we are developing a host of products that reduce the requirement for virgin aggregates, allowing us to build new from old without compromising quality of performance.
Last year we launched ECOCycle – an independently verified accreditation which symbolizes that a product has been manufactured with at least 10% construction demolition materials (CDM) and is compliant with the applicable clauses of ISO 14021:2016.
Not only does ECOCycle encourage the adoption of recycled CDM in asphalt, it makes it easier for customers to make informed decisions about the products they are using.
Another great example of a circular economy and our commitment to reducing the requirement for virgin aggregate is Foamix. Pre-existing aggregates can be scraped from a road surface, brought back to one of our asphalt plants, and turned into brand new material, ready for deployment on roads. Foamix is made of 92% recycled material and is itself 100% recyclable, all without compromising on product strength or durability.
The construction industry is responsible for roughly 20% of the UK’s carbon emissions and as a result, we have an unbridled responsibility to do all we can to reduce our impact on the climate. As we head into 2025, we will continue to invest heavily in innovation, creating products that make it easier for our customers to build sustainably and pushing our industry to be cleaner and greener without compromising on durability and standards.
Subscribe to Quarry Management, the monthly journal for the mineral products industry, to read articles before they appear on Agg-Net.com
