Interview with Fabian Zitzmann, Managing Partner from ecopals.

Last 4 December, during the IRF 2025 Annual Conference, ecopals was named the winner for IRF Start-Up Label 2025. We caught up with them to talk about their work and how IRF is supporting their efforts to better the mobility and transport sectors.

 To begin, could you briefly introduce ecopals? 

ecopals develops technologies that reduce the dependence of road construction on fossil raw materials. Asphalt traditionally consists of aggregates and bitumen, a petroleum-based binder whose performance is enhanced through newly produced polymers. Both components are cost-intensive and associated with a significant carbon footprint. This is precisely where ecopals comes in. We process recycled plastics into a high-performance asphalt additive called EcoFlakes. In asphalt mixtures, EcoFlakes replace virgin polymers and simultaneously substitute a share of the bitumen, without compromising quality or durability. The result is longer-lasting roads, lower CO₂ emissions and reduced total lifecycle costs of infrastructure. 

Our asphalt technologies were developed in close collaboration with leading German research institutions, including the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology and the University of Kassel. Today, EcoFlakes are used in more than 40 projects across seven countries, ranging from heavily trafficked motorways and logistics hubs to bus stops and municipal roads. 

What problem is ecopals addressing? 

Road construction is often perceived as a conservative industry, yet it is of critical importance. It shapes the carbon footprint of entire economies, consumes vast quantities of raw materials and is increasingly affected by rising costs. To date, the industry relies on newly produced polymers to enhance pavement performance. This approach is neither environmentally nor geopolitically sustainable. With EcoFlakes, we demonstrate that identical performance can be achieved using recycled plastics. In doing so, we address two challenges at once. We reduce the consumption of fossil resources while giving recycled plastics a new and valuable purpose. At the same time, we extend the service life of roads and lower maintenance and rehabilitation efforts. This makes road construction not only more climate-friendly, but also more economically efficient. 

Where do you see ecopals in the coming years? What are you working on at the moment? 

Our focus is on international scaling, building on Germany as our domestic market. Sustainability targets and rising cost pressure are not unique to Germany but shape road construction markets worldwide. Across regions, public authorities and private asset owners seek solutions that use materials more efficiently while improving the performance, resilience and service life of infrastructure. In the coming years, we aim to establish EcoFlakes as a globally recognised standard solution for polymer-modified asphalt based on recycled materials. 

To achieve this at scale, we have deliberately built capabilities that go beyond a single product or application. While road construction remains our focus, we see significant untapped potential for environmentally friendly and cost-effective materials across a wider range of industries. To systematically unlock this potential, we rely on our in-house software to assess material formulations before physical production and testing. Our cloud-based virtual laboratory predicts rheological, structural-mechanical and physico-chemical properties, enabling data-driven decisions at an earlier stage and significantly shortening development cycles. This capability extends beyond road construction, as core material performance characteristics are decisive in many industrial applications. 

What has been the most important lesson learnt from implementing your technology across different countries and project types? 

One of the most important lessons has been that performance-based innovation travels better than purely regulatory-driven solutions. While standards, specifications and approval pathways differ significantly from country to country, the core challenges are remarkably similar: rising costs, limited resources and the need for durable infrastructure. Projects in different regions have shown us that once decision-makers see reliable performance data and real-world references, openness to recycled-material solutions increases rapidly. This has reinforced our focus on close collaboration with local partners as the foundation for successful international deployment. 

What does IRF offer in terms of supporting and strengthening ecopals’ work? 

The IRF represents a network that is unique within the road and infrastructure sector. Decision-making in this industry is strongly relationship-driven. Therefore, progress is often enabled through personal exchange rather than purely formal processes. The IRF brings together precisely those stakeholders, public authorities, operators and industry leaders, who shape infrastructure development globally, in a way that cannot be replicated elsewhere. 

For ecopals, this network is highly valuable. Beyond the visibility created by sharing member news within and beyond the Federation, we are particularly looking forward to active exchange, informed feedback and learning from experienced practitioners. At the same time, the reputation of the IRF and the perspectives of its members provide important third-party validation, which supports trust-building and accelerates adoption when entering new markets.