New drivers for sustainability in asphalt roadway production continue to arise as departments of transportation look to minimize their carbon footprint without sacrificing performance. A recent article published in the February 2025 issue of AsphaltPro highlights the importance of using higher amounts of recycled materials in roadway development through the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and an effective asphalt rejuvenator.
While asphalt usage is expected to reach 225.9 million tons by 2030, it also remains one of the most recycled materials. The ability to incorporate RAP in asphalt mixes can also directly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In fact, GHG emissions were lowered by 2.7 million metric tons of CO2e in 2022, equivalent to the annual emissions of 600,000 passenger vehicles. All of this can contribute to sustainability in asphalt production and construction.
The caveat to higher RAP usage, or the performance viability of any mix using more than 25% RAP, is the need for the inclusion of an asphalt recycling agent or asphalt rejuvenator that can restore the functional properties of the aged bitumen in the mix. Sripath’s ReLIXER® has been more than proven to meet these requirements and help contractors worldwide.
The article also details a case study where a 100% RAP mix was developed to meet performance specifications by using ReLIXER. The recycling agent, which helps restore the functional properties of the aged bitumen in RAP mixes, is also environmentally friendly. ReLIXER is formulated from a blend of bio-based oils sourced from crops that do not impact food production.
