The construction of asphalt pavement has a significant impact on the environment, in both energy use and emissions. When talking GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions from asphalt pavement construction have been receiving increasing attention in recent years. The results of research show that the greenhouse gas emissions from the mixture mixing phase are the highest, and account for about 54% of the total amount.
Companies in the field are testing and developing various methodologies to reduce those GHG factors found in asphalt. Ingevity Corp. received an EPD (environmental product declaration) for its Evotherm M1 WMA (Warm Mix Asphalt) technology showing them to be the first chemical additive supplier to be included in the NAPA (National Asphalt Pavement Assn.’s Emerald Eco-Label, a tool that provides supply-chain specific upstream environmental data for asphalt mixtures.
The Emerald Eco-Label tool is a web-based software program that allows asphalt mixture producers to develop verified plant-specific and mix-specific EPDs that quantify the environmental impacts of the asphalt mixtures, helping asphalt producers assist their customers in meeting their environmental goals. Integrating Ingevity’s EPD for Evotherm M1 into the Emerald Eco-Label tool provides upstream data for asphalt mixtures that contain Evotherm M1.
The EPD for Evotherm M1 denotes Ingevity’s compliance with environmental impact assessment standards for manufacture of the warm mix additive by measuring and reporting the “cradle-to-gate” impacts of manufacturing and packaging, and assessing the material, energy, waste, and emissions impacts of processing and transporting the raw additive materials.
A study determined that the use of Evotherm M1 warm mix asphalt additive offsets the volume of GHG generated in its manufacture by a factor range of 18 to 23. Ingevity’s Evotherm M1 WMA technology provides comprehensive benefits that surpass conventional hot mix asphalt such as lowering paving temperatures, reducing environmental emissions, creating a fume-free work environment for crews and surrounding businesses and neighborhoods, and building longer-lasting roads.
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