French company makes Biophalt or asphalt it says is environment-friendly

PARIS: French construction company Eiffage has developed a new type of pavement for more sustainable roads, called Biophalt.

The production of this material allows for significant energy savings compared to conventional asphalt mixes. Plus its structure can be recycled.

Biophalt is a type of pavement that is made with a new generation of plant-based binder derived from a French forestry co-product, which replaces the petroleum-based bitumen usually used by manufacturers.

It has the advantage of retaining all the performance of a conventional asphalt mix, but its design allows for energy savings, thanks to the lower manufacturing temperature. This results in a significant reduction of CO2 emissions. Furthermore, Biophalt is fully recyclable.

Before being put into use, the company evaluated its performance; it was found to withstand the weight of more than two million 13-ton axle vehicles without showing the slightest defect.

To date, several sites in France have already been equipped with this type of surfacing.

One example is a section of departmental road 924, in the Orne department, between Flers and Landigou, where nearly 3,000 metres of pavement were renovated.

Similarly, a section of the A40 highway near Caen, between the towns of Laize-la-Ville and Clinchamps-sur-Orne is the site of a new greenway.