Institution news
For more information about the Sustainable and Decarbonised Construction 2025 seminar, please visit the event website.
Could you briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience related to the focus of this event?
Umesh Parajuli (UP): National Highways is committed to supporting the UK Government’s Net Zero ambitions. As part of this, I’m leading a key initiative project called the ‘Future Asphalt Surface Course Linking to NH Net Zero’. This work is focused on decarbonising the most commonly used road surfacing material — asphalt — across England’s Strategic Road Network.
What, in your experience, has been the biggest roadblock for the industry over the past 2-3 years?
UP: Inconsistency in fast pace emerging innovative low carbon technologies and their optimal adoption and implementations with the same pace are the biggest roadblock for the industries. This could be because of either delaying in updating local level standards or having not enough skills and experience locally.
What key topics are you excited to discuss at this year's conference?
UP: National Highways initiation towards decarbonising asphalts - a brief highlights from Future Asphalt Surface Course linking to Net Zero. Asphalt surface course is the most used materials in pavement/road maintenance and construction. Decarbonising asphalt is very crucial to achieve net zero ambition. Main goal of the project is to identify and trial innovative low-carbon technologies such as bio-binders, high-reclaimed asphalt content, warm mix asphalts, and service life-extending additives like polymers, graphene, and crumb rubber. These technologies have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road construction and maintenance. Through site trials, lab testing, and performance studies, we’re building the evidence base to update standards and specifications — enabling early adoption and wider use of these solutions. This project is a vital step in delivering National Highways’ Net Zero 2040 plan, which targets carbon reduction in materials, equipment, and transport. I am excited to share our progress to date and collaborate with industry partners to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future for UK roads.
What do you consider to be the key areas of innovation in this industry, both in the UK and internationally?
UP: The following low carbon technologies and materials are the key areas of innovations in asphalt production towards the road construction and maintenance:
• Bio based binder (to be produced from renewal sources like biomass, plants or vegetables etc) by replacing or substituting traditional petroleum based binder;
• Next generation of low temperature asphalts such as warm/half warm mix asphalts;
• Graphene additive asphalts,
• Life extending polymers
• Optimum use of crumb rubbers and recycled plastics
Who else are you most interested in hearing from on the programme?
UP: Road builders, contractors, engineers, professionals, researchers, universities.
Why is it important for engineers to join this conference?
UP: It would highlights how construction industries help decarbonising sectors through materials, technologies including plants and transportation.
Sustainable and Decarbonised Construction 2025 will take place on 23 September at One Birdcage Walk and will feature technical input from UK Government, leading construction contractors, materials suppliers, and many others.
For more information about the seminar and the full agenda, please visit the event website.