Practical steps on the journey to net zero: The materials challenge

11:00am - 12:15pm

Alec Peachey Content Director at Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG)

The next event in the Local Council Roads Innovation Group’s (LCRIG) webinar series ‘Practical steps on the journey to net zero’ will examine the subject of materials.

Colas and Breedon are the primary partners for the series which will explore in detail the work being done to accelerate the transition to clean energy and sustainable roads.

Taking place on 7th June at 11am the next event will examine how carbon savings can be made across highway and transportation infrastructure with respect to the type of materials used.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Highways released a report in 2019 stating that if all asphalt production in 2017 had been switched to warm mix then this would have saved 61,000 tonnes of CO2 – equivalent of cutting 300m miles of car journey.

But with warm mix accounting for less than 4% of production in UK what is stopping the sector from adopting this more widely?

Other material types and the processes used in adopting them can also lead to carbon savings. To get to net zero the highways sector will need to be more radical and open minded about the type of techniques and materials used on roads. This exclusive webinar, which forms part of LCRIG’s ‘Practical steps on the journey to net zero’ series, will explore in detail the work being done to helps councils and the supply chain get there.

The Chief Executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) and Technical Director at Breedon will form part of the panel. Paul Boss and Ken McNeil will be joined by Daniel Morgan, Quarrying and Asphalt Development Director at Colas.

Topics of discussion will include:

- Using new materials and techniques to deliver carbon savings
- Becoming less risk-averse on the journey to net zero
- How to track carbon savings?
- The financial benefits
- Learning from abroad
- Details of speakers will be confirmed in the coming weeks.