• EcoFlakes PRO, a high-performance asphalt additive made from recycled plastics, was used in a second project in North Lanarkshire following the successful performance of the first site in Scotland just months earlier.

• The second project at Strathclyde Country Park combined EcoFlakes-modified asphalt with Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technology to achieve additional energy savings and emissions reductions.

• The continued use of this technology is helping North Lanarkshire Council and its partners advance more sustainable, low-carbon road construction.

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

Motherwell, SCO / Berlin, GER (23 March 2026) – Just months after completing the United Kingdom’s first-ever EcoFlakes project in Motherwell, Scotland, ecopals has successfully delivered a second project in the North Lanarkshire Council area. A section of Strathclyde Country Park has now been upgraded with EcoFlakes PRO, the company’s high-performance asphalt additive made from recycled plastics. The follow-up project reflects the positive reception of the initial trial and marks another step forward in the deployment of sustainable road materials across the UK.

At Strathclyde Country Park, EcoFlakes PRO was used in combination with Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), a method that reduces mixing and laying temperatures, further lowering energy consumption and on-site emissions compared with conventional hot-mix processes. By incorporating recycled plastics into the mix, EcoFlakes reduce dependence on costly virgin polymers derived from crude oil, cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 20% compared with conventional asphalt while enhancing pavement durability.

Since 2021, ecopals has expanded its project portfolio across Europe and Eurasia, supplying its asphalt additive technology for use in road construction projects. The company is now expanding its presence in the United Kingdom, supported by a network of industrial partners.

The underlying recycling process was developed by ecopals in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) in Germany. Through a multi-stage process, recycled plastic is refined for use in asphalt. This improves the thermal stability and long-term durability of the asphalt mixture while returning previously underutilised materials to the resource cycle, contributing to the circular economy and the decarbonisation of road infrastructure.

Jonas Varga, Managing Partner, ecopals: “We are thrilled to see our technology being applied for the second time in Scotland so shortly after the first trial. With several projects already in the pipeline, this rapid succession is a clear signal that the performance of the asphalt has convinced our partners. By using EcoFlakes PRO in combination with WMA, we are not only reducing the carbon footprint but also delivering a more durable and resilient pavement. We are very grateful to North Lanarkshire Council for their continued trust and for leading the way in sustainable infrastructure.”

Scott Walker, Roads & Asset Services Manager, North Lanarkshire Council: “The use of EcoFlakes PRO at Strathclyde Country Park is part of our work with the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads to reduce the carbon footprint of the roads network. Through this initiative, we have tested a range of low-carbon materials in live road maintenance environments, helping address technical, behavioural and market barriers that have slowed adoption across the highways sector. We will work with ecopals to monitor and evaluate the road surface over time to assess how it performs, and the data will be shared with partners across the UK.”

Simon Arnold, Schemes Manager (North), HOCHTIEF Operations UK & Ireland: “The team were impressed with the materials, which were, in some instances, more workable than conventional, equivalent materials. The laying characteristics of EcoFlakes were comparable to locally available and widely used conventional materials, where from a laying perspective the team would have no hesitation in using the material in its current form.”

Andy Bowers, Business Development Manager Roads, ACI Group: “Myself and the ACI Group were delighted to play our part in the successful project in Strathclyde for North Lanarkshire using the EcoFlakes PRO material. It's clear that the UK highways industry is actively searching for practical and high-performance materials that deliver both long-lasting results and meaningful carbon reduction on the network. What we have seen again in this project is a practical demonstration of how EcoFlakes materials can deliver what is needed in asphalt performance and modern-day requirements. By integrating recycled polymers into asphalt, including Warm Mix options, we are helping the network adopt materials that are not only more sustainable but also engineered for long-term durability and performance. It's exciting to support councils and contractors who are ready to lead the shift towards lower-carbon, high-performance and future-proof road construction across the UK and Ireland.”