Redbridge first in London to pilot ground-breaking new product that makes road resurfacing greener

Redbridge is the first borough in London to trial a unique, new asphalt mix that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint in road resurfacing works.

The trailblazing project led by Redbridge Council, in partnership with Kensons Highways, utilised the revolutionary asphalt for road resurfacing works at Lodge Hill, in Ilford.

The asphalt mix, supplied by Tarmac, significantly lowered the carbon footprint from the road resurfacing process by incorporating a carbon negative product into the mix, called ACLA^®.

Results showed that using ACLA^®, Tarmac’s asphalt had reduced the project’s carbon footprint by 68%, which is equivalent to an average UK car driving 17,400 miles, or a round trip to Los Angeles for two people.

ACLA^® was designed and manufactured by Earthshot Prize finalist climate tech company Low Carbon Materials (LCM). It works by capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to permanently remove it and lock it into the resurfaced road.

Typically, there are three layers of asphalt applied when resurfacing roads. For the trial ACLA^® was used in the middle layer, ensuring the entire middle layer of the road was net zero, as well as significantly lowering the project's carbon footprint overall.

Redbridge Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Jo Blackman, said: “Redbridge is always striving to find innovative ways to reduce our emissions. We’re proud to be the first London borough partnering with Kensons, Low Carbon Materials, and Tarmac to deliver this pioneering new trial.  We’re not only committed to improving the quality of our roads but also reducing the emissions associated with the resurfacing process. This trial is another step towards reducing our carbon footprint to become a cleaner and greener Redbridge.”

David Shelley, Director for Kenson Highways, said: “We initially encountered Low Carbon Materials at the Highways UK show. Upon investigating the product, we quickly realised its potential interest for Redbridge. Our ongoing collaboration with Redbridge aims to identify methods to reduce carbon emissions, and this initiative represents one of several efforts to decrease emissions throughout the borough. Kenson Highways is proud to have contributed to this trial and remains committed to supporting the reduction of carbon footprints in both current and future projects.”

Tim Smith, Senior Technical Manager (South East) at Tarmac added: “There has never been a more important time to explore innovative, carbon-saving solutions and materials. By collaborating with supply chain and industry partners on this project we have demonstrated what's possible in delivering greener roads. It’s crucial that the learnings from this project help to inform further decarbonisation of the road network.”

Natasha Boulding, CEO of LCM, said: “I’m proud to have collaborated with pioneers Redbridge Council, Kensons Highways and Tarmac on this first-of-its-kind scheme in London to see ACLA ® used to unlock net zero asphalt. This project offers a blueprint for best-practice and a clear roadmap for dramatically reducing the environmental impact of road construction and maintenance.”

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