The Swedish Transport Administration introduces new climate requirements for asphalt after testing them in a number of projects.
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"We want to show our target orientation and give a clear order to stimulate the industry towards the transition to climate neutrality," says Ã…sa Lindgren, technical sustainability expert at the Swedish Transport Administration.
The goal for the Swedish Transport Administration is to be climate neutral by the year 2040. This means that the net emissions must then be zero for greenhouse gases.
The requirements for emissions of greenhouse gases in the production of asphalt will be gradually tightened. The new requirements from the Swedish Transport Administration, which will be introduced in June this year, will mean a 30 percent reduction.
"We are taking the first step now, 2025 will be the next," says Lindgren.
"To think climate-smart in a road project, all aspects must be taken into account, from the manufacturing process to the life cycle of the asphalt. The asphalt must be produced as environmentally friendly as possible, but also needs to last over time and be recyclable.
"We must think of asphalt as a valuable resource. We need to find the right quality for the right place. It is not climate-smart or economically justifiable if the asphalt pavement has a short lifespan," says Lindgren.
There are mainly three aspects that contribute to reduced CO2 emissions. In part, it is about changing the fuel in the asphalt plants, from fossil to biofuel. Another way is to reuse old asphalt.
"If recycled asphalt is added to the production of asphalt, it provides savings in the form of reduced emissions of greenhouse gases. The temperature in the manufacturing process is also of some importance from a climate perspective," says Lindgren.
A new technology that is being developed is to replace part of the bitumen, the black in the asphalt that acts as a binder, with biogenic alternatives such as pine oil or lignin.
"Here we need more knowledge to be able to ensure quality and longevity," says Lindgren. ■