November 2025
ACI Group paves the way to decarbonised highways sector after successful EcoFlakes trial project
EcoFlakes, the high-performance sustainable asphalt additive exclusively distributed in the UK by ACI Group, has become the first innovation of its kind to be successfully installed on British roads following a trial in Scotland.
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The project, initiated by the Safetytech Accelerator’s ADEPT Live Labs 2 scheme, saw ACI collaborate with North Lanarkshire Council to make a section of a Motherwell road the first in the country to use EcoFlakes, a polymer additive made with post-consumer recycled plastics.
Having been successfully applied across Europe, offering equivalent performance to polymer modified bitumen (PMB) with only a fraction of the carbon cost, EcoFlakes’ arrival in the UK represents a huge boost for the highways sector.
As local authorities, highways engineers, and contractors are increasingly under pressure to reduce Scope 3 emissions in line with Net Zero targets, EcoFlakes is proven to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of road surfacing work. In total, half a tonne of EcoFlakes was used in the trial, equalling the annual amount of plastic consumed by more than six average households. It can offer up to a 20% CO2 reduction on road surfacing projects when combined with other innovations from the ACI portfolio such as bio-binders and warm-mix asphalt. The success of the UK trial positions ACI as complete supply chain partners for the highways sector.
Andy Bowers, Business Development Manager – Roads at ACI Group said, “ACI Group was thrilled to be part of a UK-first trial using EcoFlakes. As its exclusive UK distributor, we saw the material manufactured into 35/14 hot rolled asphalt (HRA) with recycled polymers, delivering outstanding results on the day. Fast dispersion in the asphalt, combined with smooth paving and rolling with no rutting, made this Live Labs 2 trial a clear success, giving both client and contractor confidence for SMA and HRA applications.
“Hopefully this successful trial paves the way for wider adoption of EcoFlakes across the UK, supported by technical guidance, training, and integration assistance for contractors and authorities, positioning the product as a high performance, low carbon solution aligned with the country’s Net Zero and circular economy goals.”
Fabian Zitzmann, Managing Partner at EcoFlakes’ manufacturer ecopals, said, “By using EcoFlakes, we not only reduce the amount of raw material needed for asphalt production but also make the road more durable. We’re thrilled to see our technology being applied in Scotland, marking another step in meeting the rising international demand for high-performance, sustainable construction materials. We are very grateful to North Lanarkshire Council for the opportunity and the excellent collaboration.”
ACI’s expert customer service team is available to provide training, onsite guidance, and collaborative R&D on projects involving EcoFlakes. To learn more about its portfolio of solutions for the road industry, including warm mix asphalt, emulsifiers, adhesion promoters, and colours, visit www.acigroup.biz.