From an idea to a PlasticRoad company!

How cool is that! In 2013 this was still a dream and wish of Simon Jorritsma and myself. In 2020 this is now really reality. 

What started as an adventure where we did not exactly know the outcome (link), we only had full confidence that a PlasticRoad had to be realistic and feasible, we can now look back on two very successful pilots that meet all expectations. We as PlasticRoad team are very proud to announce that the PlasticRoad: 

• Is the lightest road construction in the world is at 48 kg / m2 
• Save 50 - 70% CO2 compared to a traditional outdoor space. 
• Is the most circular road construction application at this moment. 
• Can cope with extreme of rain showers without problems and prevent drought in the soil by infiltrating all the water. 
• Is able to create a lot of storage at high groundwater levels and even makes it possible to infiltrate. 
• Is made from household plastic waste, the part that is now being incinerated or dumped in landfills. 

Silence before the storm: 

It has been quiet for a while around the PlasticRoad, but we have certainly not sitting still. For example, we extensively tested the pilots in Zwolle and Giethoorn together with the Municipality of Zwolle and the Province of Overijssel, we learned a lot from this and translated these lessons into the further development of the product. As a result, the above advantages will improve even more if we start applying the new PlasticRoad elements in 2021. 

The next adventure: 

Based on the convincing results of the pilots, work is currently underway to start up the production line. The PlasticRoad can be ordered from this moment and will be available from the first quarter in 2021. A lot of interest has already been shown from the market. Together with clients and contractors, our goal is to make cities climate adaptive and CO2 neutral. We will do this in the form of various applications. For example, bicycle paths, parking spaces, sidewalks and school squares are planned. . The team will initially be focusing on clients in the Netherlands and neighbouring countries, after which they expect to scale up to markets in other parts of the world. 

All this to make as many cities as possible circular, climate-adaptive and emission-free, whereby we convert as much plastic waste as possible into products that benefit everyone. 

Read the entire press release here.