The operator of Frankfurt Airport, Fraport AG, is trialling a new approach to sustainable road construction.
Together with startup “B2Square – Bitumen Beyond Oil,” the airport operator is using sustainable asphalt concrete to build and test a 200-meter-long section of road located on the airport apron.
In fact, this is the first time that organic cashew-based bitumen has been used at an airport anywhere in the world.
SUSTAINABLE ROAD CONSTRUCTION TRIAL AT FRANKFURT AIRPORT
Bitumen is indispensable for road construction, as stated in a press release.
It is normally obtained as a byproduct when distilling crude oil. It is then mixed with mineral aggregate to make asphalt concrete for building roads.
Traditional asphalt is thus produced from petroleum by-products.
However, B2Square is blending naturally occurring hydrocarbon resin with an organic extract obtained by pressing cashew shells.
In contrast, B2Square’s biogenic asphalt utilizes a natural hydrocarbon resin combined with an organic extract from cashew shells.
The resulting material is then mixed with aggregate to make sustainable asphalt.
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REDUCED CARBON FOOTPRINT
This biogenic raw material is much more durable and climate-friendly than conventional asphalt concrete.
Like all plants, cashew trees extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The CO2 stored in cashew shells is neutralized in a special process and then permanently bound in the road paving.
In addition, the low-temperature method used to lay it impacts climate change by consuming less energy.
“We regard this innovative bioasphalt based on organic bitumen as a fascinating possibility for reducing Frankfurt Airport’s carbon footprint,” says Andreas Eibensteiner of Fraport AG’s Environmental Management Department.
By using bio-asphalt, Fraport is also already complying with new laws that will limit exposure to steam and aerosols at workplaces (starting in 2025).
“If it’s confirmed that this novel pavement meets our strict quality requirements, the airport’s apron areas have huge potential for continuing to roll out this process. To effectively combat climate change, you have to think out of the box and try out ingenious approaches like this one,” he said.
FRAPORT’S CLIMATE GOALS
Frankfurt Airport is thus making headways with its sustainable road construction trial.
Activities such as this support climate protection are based on a decarbonization plan for the entire Fraport group.
By 2045 Frankfurt Airport and all of Fraport’s other fully consolidated facilities will operate with zero carbon dioxide emissions. This decision was adopted in 2023.
Moreover, by 2030, the airport operator will have already reduced them at its home base to 50,000 tonnes annually.
“For decarbonizing the Fraport Group, we’re mainly focusing on avoiding CO2 emissions in the areas that we directly impact. Greater attention is also being paid to scope 3 emissions, including those caused by construction activities. It’s important to look for innovative ways to reduce the climate footprint of our supply chains,” Eibensteiner said.
