Asphalt containing lignin contributes to a lower emission of carbon dioxide

Publicerat 1 July, 2022

Since 2015, the construction company Peab has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions from asphalt manufacturing by 65 percent. This is thanks to the launch of a product called Eco-asphalt, containing fossil-free oils and lignin from renewable raw materials.

Since it was launched, it has helped reduce emissions equivalent to 240 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. That is the same amount as the annual emissions from all of Sweden’s asphalt production, according to Peab

Forest raw material as an ingredient

The most energy-intensive part of the asphalt manufacturing process is the heating and drying of the stone material. By replacing fossil-based fuel with biofuel, two-thirds of Peab’s climate savings have been achieved. The remaining part has been achieved through recycling and the use of the forest raw material lignin.

“I am proud that we have reduced our carbon footprint by almost two-thirds. We have made an amazing journey, but we have not reached our goal yet. We continue to develop our products. By increasing the recycling, we see a great potential to save climate and natural resources, without sacrificing quality and function. We are also working on how to replace the oil-based binder bitumen, with lignin, a residual product from the forest industry,” says Peter Svensson, CEO of Peab Asfalt.

Several roads in Sweden already contain lignin and it is an important ingredient that makes Eco-asphalt more climate resilient. But the work to replace even more fossil parts is ongoing. If the amount of renewable raw materials could be increased even further, the roads could become even more environmentally friendly in the future.