The Road Forward, an industry-wide initiative of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) to produce net zero carbon emission asphalt pavements, welcomes two inaugural funding partners that are demonstrating their commitment to climate stewardship while advancing the asphalt pavement industry. The inaugural sponsors are producer member Peckham Industries, Inc., and associate member Cargill Asphalt Solutions.
A NAPA member since 1973, Peckham Industries produces hot-, warm-, and cold-mix asphalt in New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts. A NAPA member since 2016, Cargill offers a line of asphalt additives including rejuvenators, warm- and cold-mix additives, and anti-strip to help producers increase performance and profits.
“Peckham Industries is excited to take part in The Road Forward and join NAPA on their journey to a net zero future,” said Will Hadeka, Sustainability Lead for Peckham Industries. “Since 1924, our company’s foundation has been built on family values, and we are committed to building a sustainable future for our employees, customers, and communities for generations to come. The Road Forward allows us to unite across the country to help move our industry forward as we pave the way to a sustainable future.”
In supporting The Road Forward, Peckham and Cargill are further demonstrating their commitment to climate stewardship. In fact, in a recent collaboration with the City of Yonkers, New York, Peckham doubled the maximum recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) content from 20 percent to 40 percent using Cargill’s Anova® Rejuvenator. Now, their support will help fund ongoing research and education to aid the entire U.S. asphalt industry in achieving net zero carbon emission asphalt production and construction by 2050.
“Cargill provides sustainable asphalt technologies and solutions around the world, and we are on board with NAPA to help advance environmental stewardship in the asphalt industry through The Road Forward initiative,” said Justin Black, Cargill Asphalt Solutions Category Leader. “Cargill Asphalt Solutions is delighted to collaborate with NAPA and the asphalt mixture community,” added Dan Staebell, Cargill Asphalt Solutions National Business Development Leader. “We are proud to bring our scientific expertise, connections in the industry, and drive for innovation to this initiative.”
“Cargill and Peckham’s foresight in sustainability is an example for our industry and our customers – DOTs and road owners,” remarked NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland, PhD, PE. “Their support of The Road Forward fuels our vision for the future: sustainable communities and commerce, connected by net zero carbon asphalt pavements.”
Two Funding Partners Sign On
Two funding partners have also pledged their support for The Road Forward. NAPA associate member Ingevity and producer member Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC. In joining inaugural sponsors Cargill Asphalt Solutions and Peckham Industries, Inc., Ingevity and Ajax are demonstrating their commitment to climate stewardship while advancing the asphalt pavement industry.
Family-owned Ajax Paving operates eight asphalt plants across Florida’s Gulf Coast and constructs various projects from runways to design-build. The company’s President, Vince Hafeli, has served on NAPA’s Board of Directors since 2015 and is currently the Vice Chair of the Southeast Region Advisory Council.
A NAPA member since 2002, Ingevity manufactures sustainable specialty chemicals and materials for a variety of markets, including preservation products for asphalt pavements and warm-mix asphalt (WMA) additives like Evotherm®. Ingevity recently published an environmental product declaration (EPD) for Evotherm M1, making it the first chemical additive supplier to be included in NAPA’s EPD tool, Emerald Eco-Label.
In supporting The Road Forward, Ajax and Ingevity are exemplifying their values of innovation and ownership, providing industry leadership on climate action. Their support will help fund ongoing research and education to aid the entire U.S. asphalt industry in achieving net zero carbon emission asphalt production and construction by 2050.
“Ajax Paving Industries of Florida is excited to be leading the asphalt industry in paving the path forward in sustainability,” Hafeli said. “The journey to a net zero future is difficult to even comprehend. However, with NAPA as a partner, we are excited about the upcoming journey, which ties directly into Ajax being the Employer, Contractor, and Partner of Choice.”
“Ingevity is very pleased to support NAPA and The Road Forward initiative as we work together to move the asphalt industry towards net zero emissions,” said Andrew Crow, Vice President of Pavement Technologies. “At Ingevity, sustainability is at the center of all we do. Our company’s heritage of providing renewable raw material-sourced products that promote environmental stewardship has long enabled us to help customers and end users reduce their ecological footprint, and we are excited to bring our expertise in sustainable paving technologies to the industry as we work to meet our shared climate goals.”
“For decades, Ingevity and Ajax Paving Industries of Florida have demonstrated their respective commitments to innovating on behalf of their customers and communities,” remarked NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland, PhD, PE. “Their support of The Road Forward fuels our vision for the future: sustainable communities and commerce, connected by net zero carbon asphalt pavements.”
For more information about The Road Forward, including details on the industry goals and how your company can support this work, visit AsphaltPavement.org/Forward.
