• A recycled-plastic asphalt additive was used on a road in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, improving pavement performance and reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 20%.

• The project supports the transition to more sustainable road construction through the use of alternative materials.

• The technology was developed by German company ecopals in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology.

Berlin, GER (16 October 2025) – A road section in Motherwell, Scotland, has become the site of the United Kingdom’s first-ever project using EcoFlakes, a high-performance asphalt additive made from recycled plastics. In total, half a ton of product has been incorporated into the road’s surface course. This project marks ecopals’ first venture on UK soil and a milestone in the company’s mission to make road construction more sustainable.

To meet the performance demands of modern road infrastructure, conventional asphalt production relies on substantial quantities of costly virgin polymers derived from crude oil. By incorporating recycled plastics into the mix, EcoFlakes reduce this dependence, cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 20% compared to conventional asphalt while enhancing pavement performance. In this project alone, the amount of EcoFlakes used equals the annual plastic consumption of more than six average households.

Since 2021, ecopals has been supplying its additive technology across Europe. With more than 40 successful projects already completed in Germany, including a major section of the Autobahn A7 where 15,000 tonnes of asphalt were modified using ecopals’ technology, the company is now accelerating its deployment in the United Kingdom.

The foundational recycling process was developed by ecopals together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) in Germany. Through a multi-stage process, recycled plastic is refined for use in asphalt. This not only improves the thermal stability and long-term durability of the asphalt mixture but also ensures that a previously unused resource re-enters a sustainable material cycle.

Fabian Zitzmann, Managing Partner, ecopals: “By using EcoFlakes, we not only reduce the amount of raw materials needed for asphalt production but also make the road more durable. We’re thrilled to see our technology being applied in Scotland, marking another step in meeting the rising international demand for high-performance, sustainable construction materials. We are very grateful to North Lanarkshire Council for the opportunity and the excellent collaboration.”

Seb Corby, Head of Innovation and Technology Consulting, SafetyTech Accelerator: “We’re delighted to have helped bring ecopals’ world-class decarbonisation innovation to the UK road sector for the first time. Through the BDRS programme, they’ve had the opportunity to engage directly with the UK roads ecosystem and take important steps towards demonstrating how new, lower-carbon materials can be applied in real-world conditions. It’s a fantastic example of how sandbox-style programmes can enable local authorities and innovators to work together to turn global innovation into practical progress on the ground — accelerating the journey towards more sustainable infrastructure.”

Elaine Nicol, Road Maintenance Manager, North Lanarkshire Council: “As part of the ADEPT Live Labs 2 Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads project, a sandbox was introduced to examine the barriers faced by innovative SMEs when bringing new low-carbon road maintenance materials to market, while giving them the opportunity to trial their innovations on a local UK road. Ecopals was successfully selected by the sandbox to trial its EcoFlakes product on a 100-metre stretch of road in North Lanarkshire. The trial took place on Tuesday, 7 October 2025. The EcoFlakes product was successfully incorporated into the traditional HRA surfacing mix. Initial feedback from the asphalt plant, surfacing operatives and the carbon-savings assessment was positive, and the council will continue to monitor the site.”

Andy Bowers, Asphalt Expert, ACI Group: “ACI Group was thrilled to be part of a UK-first trial using ecopals PRO Flakes. As the exclusive UK distributor for ecopals, we saw the material manufactured into 35/14 HRA with recycled polymers, delivering outstanding results on the day. Fast dispersion in the asphalt, combined with smooth paving and rolling with no rutting, made this Live Labs trial a clear success, giving both client and contractor confidence for SMA and HRA applications.

Hopefully, this successful trial paves the way for wider adoption of EcoFlakes across the UK, supported by technical guidance, training and integration assistance for contractors and authorities. This would position the product as a high-performance, low-carbon solution aligned with the country’s Net Zero and circular economy goals.”