Champions League-worthy circular asphalt at Johan Cruijff ArenA

By developing and applying the world's first 100% circular top layer for a new road in Amsterdam, Dura Vermeer has signed on for an absolute world first. However, the highly sustainable character of the road, located in the shadow of the Johan Cruijff ArenA, is not only in the top layer. Fully circular raw materials were also used for the base and intermediate layers.

The circular feat delivered was made possible by the Municipality of Amsterdam and the Municipality of Ouder-Amstel. Since both offer ample scope for the use of sustainable and circular asphalt, the project was an excellent opportunity for Dura Vermeer to realize the road as circularly as possible in consultation with the client. In addition, the road has to be reused after a useful life of five years. 

Environmental Profit 

Circularpave was used for the road. This proprietary mixture from Dura Vermeer consists of recycled asphalt, secondary raw materials and the circular bitumen supplied by Roof2Road from Vijfhuizen. In addition, all materials are also reusable after the end of the road's life. The 100% circular mixture also delivers a solid environmental gain: almost 40% for sub- and intermediate layers and even 70% for overlays. At the same time, the quality is at least equivalent to that of regular mixtures. It is also worth mentioning that the project involved a unique raw materials cycle by reusing the circular bitumen from an adjacent sports complex and Ajax's training facility. The raw materials were thus given a second life.

Asphalt quality counter CROW

With the certificate of the CROW Asphalt Quality Handbook, Dura Vermeer secured the most valuable 'paper' in the field of asphalt in 2022. After a range of asphalt types went through the validation process and CROW independently determined their properties and quality, the certificate was obtained. The quality of the validated asphalts is at least equivalent to that of regular asphalt. Moreover, they can be recycled. The 100% circular asphalt mixture used in Amsterdam also made Dura Vermeer the first company to receive the AKL certificate. As a result, any client can choose this sustainable asphalt with full justification. 

Circular bitumen

Roof2Road bitumen is a high-quality circular raw material for asphalt roads and replaces bitumen from the refinery. Roof2Road can even replace as much as 100% of the bitumen to be added. While retaining the same qualities. This makes it a great building block for circular infrastructure. "Roof2Road bitumen is made on the basis of qualified and selected bitumen roofing materials released from roofs and from the roofing industry," said director Gerben Bijker. "Instead of burning primary raw materials, Roof2Road allows raw materials to be reused." Roof2Road produces a clean and sustainable raw material for roads and roofing. Currently, there are already more than 20 different types to choose from for asphalt mixtures with circular bitumen. "Circularity knows no boundaries and raw materials are of strategic importance in the new Europe," concludes Bijker.