Climate-Friendly Road Construction with RmB G – Reducing CO₂ Through Extended Service Life

The demands on modern road construction are increasing: in addition to technical requirements, climate protection, resource conservation, and life cycle costs are now central considerations. One key lever in this regard is the asphalt binder. Rubber-modified bitumen (RmB G) offers clear ecological advantages compared to standard bitumen – and even compared to polymer-modified bitumen (PmB). This article explains why the use of RmB G in road construction makes an effective contribution to climate protection and how every square meter built can lead to long-term CO₂ reductions.

♻️ Sustainability Starts with the Binder

The life cycle assessment by Umtec AG (2021) shows that, already at the binder level, RmB G generates up to 17% lower environmental impact compared to PmB. The reasons:

• High proportion of recycled material (truck tires)
• Reduced use of energy-intensive SBS polymers

🧲 Annual CO₂ Savings – Thanks to Longer Service Life

The greatest advantage of RmB G lies in its significantly extended pavement lifespan. The result: fewer renewals, fewer construction sites, and lower CO₂ emissions.

These values are based on life cycle comparisons per year and per ton of asphalt, taking into account actual service lives.

🔄 Less Construction Sites = Lower Emissions

Road renovation not only generates costs, but also considerable emissions due to:

• Transport of milled and fresh asphalt
• Energy consumption in asphalt production
• Traffic jams and detours caused by construction sites

Example PA: With RmB G, the service life can be extended by 50–60% compared to PmB.

Result:

• Fewer renewals – e.g. under a performance-based contract on the A6 by Max Bögl, RmB G required only one renewal in 25 years, while PmB required at least two.
• Up to 41% lower CO₂ emissions over the entire life cycle.

🌍 Contribution to the Circular Economy

RmB G is based on material recycling of end-of-life tires:

• 40 % recycled content in the GRM product
• 16 % of which is natural rubber – a renewable raw material

This reduces the use of virgin resources, lowers energy demand, and improves the overall environmental footprint of every kilometer of road.

🧬 Technical Climate Protection Instead of Compensation

While many projects rely on carbon offsetting, RmB G delivers direct, technical climate protection:

• Avoidance instead of displacement of emissions
• Immediately measurable CO₂ reduction during construction
• Proven effectiveness – with no extra effort

Conclusion: Building Climate-Friendly Roads with RmB G

The combination of extended service life, recycled content, and low energy demand makes RmB G one of the most effective binders for climate-friendly road construction.

Every square meter paved with RmB G means:

• Lower emissions
• Longer service life
• Greater sustainability in transport infrastructure

Now is the time to implement sustainable projects.

We are here to support you in the planning, tendering, and implementation of sustainable asphalt concepts with RmB G.