Developments in sustainable asphalt technologies

Recent advancements in asphalt technology have focused on enhancing durability and sustainability through recycling and specialized additives.

In Brazil, Greca Asfaltos and BASF introduced new products at the Paving Expo 2026. Greca Asfaltos launched ECOFLEX Prime, an asphalt binder utilizing recycled tire rubber designed to resist rutting in high-traffic areas. Research indicates this technology may offer crack resistance 5.5 times higher than conventional asphalt and could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 35.9%. Additionally, BASF presented B2Last, a liquid reactive modifier intended to increase pavement lifespan and resilience to weather while allowing for lower production temperatures.

In Poland, researchers from the Lublin, Poznań, and Gdańsk Universities of Technology are conducting an 11.5 million PLN project to repurpose low-quality asphalt debris into high-quality road surfaces. The team is investigating aging mechanisms and testing additives such as biopolymers and inorganic-organic hybrid materials to improve flexibility. The project aims to transition these laboratory findings to industrial production within three years.