At the end of July, a group of road builders and asphalt experts paved a section of road with fossil-free asphalt for the first time in the Netherlands. In this so-called resin asphalt, the binding agent is 100 percent organic. It is an important and major step in the development of bio-asphalt, the road builders say.
“With this product, the asphalt of the Dutch road network can be replaced in a future-proof manner in the coming years. Resin asphalt contributes to the reduction of fossil raw materials and our task to achieve the climate objectives," the initiators said in a press release.
In Resinfalt, the bitumen, which is extracted from crude oil, has been replaced by a 100 percent biological binder. The initiators; Mourik Infra, NTP, Versluys Group, Vermeulen Group and ReintenInfra are proud of their developed product. Esha and Miscancell supply the raw materials. The Asphalt Knowledge Center takes care of the research and monitoring of the constructed test sections.
Elephant grass
The binder contains a mix of organic oils, resin and lignin from Elephant Grass. All components and the mixture have been examined for, among other things, health, environment, reusability, material properties and mixture properties. The use of resin asphalt will make an important contribution to our industry's ambition to work climate-neutral on Dutch roads by 2030, the road builders say.
'Important step'
Spokesman Ralph Venema: “The Asphalt Knowledge Center is proud of its shareholders who continue to develop asphalt mixtures and contribute to the objectives of clients such as Rijkswaterstaat. This specific collaboration between the shareholders Mourik Infra, NTP, Versluys Group, Vermeulen Group and ReintenInfra has resulted in a very important step for the asphalt industry. A wonderful example of how SMEs take their responsibility.”
The asphalt has been applied in two test sections in the municipalities of Assen and Oude IJsselstreek. These test sections are monitored for four years by the Asphalt Knowledge Center, where they, among other things, monitor the aging behavior of the road surface.
