Ecopals Accelerates Sustainable Road Construction with Recycled Plastic Asphalt Additive
Article written by Kevin Borras | Originally published by Highways News
Just months after completing the United Kingdom’s first-ever EcoFlakes project in Motherwell, ecopals has successfully delivered a second project in the area of North Lanarkshire Council.
A section in Strathclyde Country Park has now been upgraded with EcoFlakes PRO, the company’s high-performance asphalt additive made from recycled plastics. The rapid follow-up project reflects the strong performance and positive reception of the initial trial and marks a significant step forward in the deployment of sustainable road materials across the UK.
In Strathclyde Country Park, EcoFlakes PRO was applied in combination with Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), a method that reduces mixing and laying temperatures, further lowering energy consumption and on-site emissions compared to conventional hot mix processes. By incorporating recycled plastics into the mix, EcoFlakes reduce the dependence on costly virgin polymers derived from crude oil, cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 20% compared to conventional asphalt while enhancing pavement durability.
Since 2021, ecopals has grown its project portfolio across Europe and Eurasia, delivering proven additive technology at scale. The company is now rapidly expanding its footprint in the United Kingdom, supported by a strong network of industrial partners. 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 under-utilised material re-enters a sustainable cycle, contributing to both 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.”
ecopals was named winner of the IRF 2025 Start-Up Label.
EcoFlakes PRO, recycled plastic asphalt trialled at Motherwell park
Article written by Beth Oliver | Originally published by Glasgow Times
A section of Strathclyde Country Park has been resurfaced using EcoFlakes PRO, an asphalt additive made from recycled plastics, as part of North Lanarkshire Council’s push to cut carbon emissions.
The material, developed by German company ecopals and used in just the second project of its kind in the UK, follows a successful trial in Motherwell just months earlier.
Jonas Varga, managing partner at ecopals, said: "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."
EcoFlakes PRO reduces the need for virgin polymers and can cut CO2 emissions by up to 20% compared to standard asphalt. The scheme also used warm mix asphalt (WMA) technology, which lowers the temperature required for mixing and laying, further reducing energy demands.
Jonas said: "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."
The technology was developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology and supports the council’s work with the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads.
Scott Walker, roads and asset services manager at North Lanarkshire Council, said: "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) at HOCHTIEF Operations UK & Ireland, also praised the material’s ease of use. He said: "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."
ecopals was named winner of the IRF 2025 Start-Up Label.
