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You can find asphalt virtually everywhere—it’s the most common foundation of roads, highways, and urban landscapes worldwide. It's hard to go far without encountering asphalt's unmistakable presence in our infrastructure. Chosen for its cost-effectiveness and durability, asphalt has solidified its status as a fundamental building material in global development.
That said, its popularity doesn't mean we should overlook the environmental implications of its widespread use. Our global population continues to grow, increasing the overall demand for paved surfaces. Recognizing and addressing asphalt's environmental impacts becomes crucial in our current situation.
In this blog, we'll explore the essentials of asphalt and highlight the problematic environmental consequences of its ongoing use. But we must do more than identify the issues—we must also start establishing more sustainable alternatives. By the end of this article, we hope you consider more eco-conscious choices in upcoming building projects.
Let us break down exactly what makes up most of our roads.
Asphalt, or bitumen, is a sticky, black liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. As we mentioned, it’s mainly used for road construction and maintenance. This material provides us with smooth and reliable driving surfaces, significantly contributing to our growing infrastructure.
Many people don’t realize that until the 20th century, most asphalt was sourced from natural asphalt created by decomposed plants. In contrast, most asphalt today is sourced from crude oil, which has become a significant source of pollution.
Asphalt must be mixed with various aggregate materials like rock and sand to become a strong enough building material to pave roads. After completing this process, the construction team must also drill, mine, and process the concrete to lay down a new road.
Paving with asphalt is just what it sounds like—a highly intensive process. Despite recent technological advances and recycling abilities, asphalt and concrete production still require many resources, including time, expensive paving tools, energy, and building materials.
From the production of asphalt to a construction crew laying down an asphalt road, there are many points of the process where asphalt significantly contributes to air pollution.
During asphalt manufacturing, the plants release various harmful emissions, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter, and sulphur dioxide. Studies have shown that this can significantly impact air quality and pose health risks to nearby communities.
When we move on to analyze the building process, we also see air pollution issues. Installation of hot asphalt on roads and pavement releases fumes containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other toxic chemicals.
Those are intricate pollutants, but the most important thing to understand is that they contribute to smog and can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other human health issues. Also, remember that our wildlife and environment are also dealing with this more polluted air quality.
One of the most pressing issues associated with asphalt and concrete roadways is their impermeability, meaning rainwater cannot drain naturally. Since traditional paving materials don’t permit water to permeate, municipalities must invest significant effort and resources in building drainage networks to remove rainwater from asphalt surfaces and prevent dangerous flooding.
Another significant water-related concern is that asphalt can lead to water pollution. When rainwater falls onto the asphalt pavement, it’s exposed to pollutants like oils, heavy metals, and other toxic substances. This tainted runoff eventually flows through the manufactured sewage networks and empties into our lakes, rivers, and streams.
In the end, the declining water quality negatively impacts our vital ecosystems, affecting habitats on both water and land. If we continue to ignore the toxic water pollution issues, we risk significant threats to the biodiversity and health of these environments.
Pavement materials like asphalt and concrete often absorb heat from the sun and capture a large amount of solar radiation. Since these materials are more capable of storing heat, they hold onto warmth during the day and slowly release it into the air as night falls.
This process contributes to the urban heat island (UHI) effect, which leads to higher temperatures in city areas.
To combat this problematic effect, many international researchers are developing paving solutions that don’t contribute to global warming. Some countries are testing out innovative ideas like reflective or “cool” pavements.
The obvious answer is our roads, highways, parking lots, and commercial sites. However, did you know that approximately 75% of single-family detached dwellings in Canada and the United States are built with asphalt shingles?
There are also other, less commonly known applications for asphalt. Here are some examples:
Now that you know more about the significant challenges accompanying the widespread use of asphalt in construction and infrastructure projects, what can we do to address these concerns?
We briefly mentioned this before, but more advanced technology allows us to repurpose asphalt more effectively now than ever before. Ensuring this becomes the industry norm will enable us to take meaningful steps to reduce the asphalt’s environmental impacts.
Asphalt is, surprisingly, remarkably recyclable. Old asphalt pavement can be repurposed to create new pavement, reducing the need for new raw materials and minimizing waste sent to landfills.
Recycling asphalt can also significantly decrease the greenhouse gas emissions released while producing and transporting brand-new asphalt.
As we move toward more sustainable practices, exploring the possibility of asphalt alternatives is crucial. Specific products are designed to fulfill asphalt’s roles while minimizing environmental damage. Furthermore, these products also focus on improving functionality and performance.
Some of the popular asphalt alternatives include:
It’s time to make the shift towards permeable paving solutions! Take a look at our 100% recyclable porous paving grid systems and you’ll see the difference.
What are the advantages of using these more advanced paving solutions?
These mindful products are designed with sustainable urban development in mind, offering various environmental and functional benefits compared to traditional asphalt and concrete.
One of the most notable advantages of permeable paving is its ability to facilitate water drainage through its surface directly into the ground beneath. This natural infiltration improves stormwater management, alleviates pressure on urban drainage systems, and minimizes the risk of flooding.
Permeable paving materials are often lighter-coloured and engineered with a more open structure. These two elements help reflect sunlight and cool the surface.
Did you know that porous paving systems like Ecoraster can be natural filters? As rainwater passes through the top layers, the permeable paving traps harmful pollutants like oils, metals, and supplements.
Overall, this modern product can enhance the quality of water and recharge local groundwater supplies. Its filtration features potentially reduce the need for expensive water treatment, too!
There's no need to worry—installing permeable paving won't require months of time or an extensive variety of materials to complete a project. In the past, many of our clients have been blown away by how easy it is to install Ecoraster products.
If you browse examples of our past projects, you’ll notice a commonality: Everyone saves time with Ecoraster. With very little preparation and tools required, the workers level the ground out, lay out the grid, and fill with gravel. In smaller instances, people have installed our products within hours!
Many people believe that permeable paving options are less durable than asphalt. However, these eco-friendly alternatives are highly durable, built for harsh weather conditions, and are very capable of supporting heavy loads. The uniquely engineered structure also reduces the likelihood of cracks and potholes, lowering maintenance and repair costs.
We believe in the longevity of our products, and our customers have seen the results. We’re confident that Ecoraster permeable paving solutions will last you for years—and they all come with a 20-year warranty!
There’s no doubt that asphalt has played a pivotal role in our building and infrastructure, especially when it comes to roads. However, asphalt paving presents several environmental challenges and functional misses that are hard to ignore, with more and more alternatives becoming available.
It's crucial for us, as a community, to pivot towards alternatives that can mitigate asphalt’s negative environmental impacts. Permeable paving solutions offer a promising route for the future, providing effective stormwater management, reducing heat, and enhancing the quality of our urban environments. Moreover, our innovative solutions come with the added benefits of durability and lower long-term maintenance costs, making them both an environmentally conscious choice and a cost-effective one.
If you're considering a paving project, whether for a new development or to replace existing surfaces, now is the time to explore sustainable options. Ecoraster’s permeable paving system is designed for resilience and environmental compatibility. By choosing Ecoraster, you're not just selecting a paving solution but contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.
Contact us to talk about using Ecoraster for your next project and make a positive impact on the environment.
