In the UK, over a quarter of a million kilometers of road have been laid. From motorways and A-roads to small country lanes, every kilometer of construction comes with a big carbon cost, emitting up to 2,600 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per kilometer.

Over the last decade investment into new material technology and machinery has produced an array of tools for the road construction industry to use which can reduce carbon emissions. We’ve previously explored some of these individual innovations, such as warm mix asphalt and the UK’s first ever eMixer.

However, decarbonising road construction can’t be achieved with one or two innovations, it requires careful planning and commitment to decarbonisation, every step of the way. Carbon emissions are found at every stage of the process, from quarries to asphalt plants, to the road construction site, and the transport in between.

In 2023 Stockton-on-Tees council and Hartlepool council, together with Tarmac completed three ambitious road projects. With help from across the supply chain, they aimed to reduce the carbon emissions at every stage as much as possible. By electrifying quarry equipment, using Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as a fuel source and using groundbreaking material technology, together these efforts reduced their carbon emissions by 84%. Now, Tarmac is joining forces with National Highways to take that blueprint for low carbon roads across the strategic road network.

Guests

Chris Wright, general manager of paving in the Northeast of England and Scotland, Tarmac

Stephen Elderkin, director of environmental sustainability, National Highways.

Partner

Tarmac is the UK’s leading sustainable construction materials, road contracting and building products business. It leads in the supply of construction material comprising aggregates, asphalt, cement, lime, concrete, road contracting, building products and recycling services.