ACI Group secures sustainable boost for UK road surfacing with exclusive EcoFlakes deal

ACI Group has secured exclusive rights to act as the UK distributor for EcoFlakes in a deal that provides a significant boost for the British road surfacing sector.

EcoFlakes are innovative polymer additives made from recycled plastics that deliver polymer modified bitumen (PMB) equivalent performance, strengthening road surfaces against rutting, cracking and ageing. Compared to traditional PMB materials made using virgin polymer, EcoFlakes result in a much lower carbon footprint per tonne of asphalt produced. In addition, the innovation enables on-site asphalt modification, reducing the reliance on imported PMB and reducing transit emissions.

Having been successfully implemented throughout Europe, the arrival of EcoFlakes  represents a huge boost for highways engineers, local authorities, and contractors who are under increasing pressure to reduce Scope 3 emissions by adopting reduced carbon materials.

Andy Bowers, business development manager – roads at ACI Group, said: ‘The partnership strengthens ACI’s growing infrastructure portfolio, aligning with the UK’s net zero and circular economy ambitions by bringing a high performance, sustainable solution to the national road construction sector. We are continually on the lookout for validated, proven solutions that are supported by performance data, and EcoFlakes fits perfectly with that ethos.

‘It is exciting for us, but it is even more exciting for our customers working in highways and road surfacing, who finally have a high performance alternative asphalt additive to support their net zero goals. By transforming recycled plastics and other waste materials into asphalt modifiers, we are proudly supporting infrastructure projects that are both sustainable and future ready.’

EcoFlakes are made using post consumer recycled plastics that are collected and sorted using advanced methods to ensure performance. When combined with other materials in the ACI portfolio including bio-binders and warm mix asphalt, they can offer up to a 20% CO2 reduction on road surfacing projects. This positions ACI as complete supply chain partners for the highways sector.

The solution has already successfully proven its performance on UK roads in a Live Labs 2 funded trial, delivered by ACI Group, in collaboration with Holcim and Hochtief, on a new road surface in North Lanarkshire. The results of the trial delivered PMB equivalent performance from a hot rolled asphalt mix containing EcoFlakes, achieving comparable durability and workability with a lower carbon footprint.