Fraport AG is pursuing innovative approaches to building materials by installing sustainable asphalt on a test road at Frankfurt Airport in collaboration with ‘B2Square – Bitumen beyond oil’. The cashew-based organic bitumen it contains is being used at an airport for the first time in the world to improve the carbon footprint.
Innovative use of organic bitumen
At Frankfurt Airport, Fraport AG has developed a 200-meter-long test road with sustainable asphalt in cooperation with the start-up company ‘B2Square – Bitumen beyond oil’. The new asphalt uses a biogenic binder made from cashew shells based on organic bitumen, which is being used in airport construction for the first time in the world. The process involves the use of hydrocarbon resin in combination with cashew shell extracts to replace conventional bitumen, which is traditionally a waste product from mineral oil production.
Improved carbon footprint through sustainable materials
The use of organic bitumen promises to significantly improve the carbon footprint in road construction. The special resin-based formula removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which remains bound in the process. This leads to permanent CO2 storage in the road surface without releasing it again. Using the low-temperature method when paving asphalt also reduces energy consumption, which further improves the CO2 balance.
Monitoring and analysis of the test field
The test road at Frankfurt Airport is being monitored by HNL Ingenieur- undprüfunggesellschaft mbH to determine the service life of the sustainable asphalt. Control tests are carried out every six months to check the degree of compaction and the void content of the material. If the sustainable surface proves successful, Fraport plans to equip additional areas with organic bitumen to support the climate goals.
Long-term climate goals of Fraport AG
Fraport aims to be climate-neutral at all locations by 2045. CO2 emissions at the Frankfurt home base are to be significantly reduced by 2030. The company is pursuing these ambitious goals through innovative measures such as the use of organic bitumen. Fraport AG invests specifically in projects that contribute to improving the climate footprint of its supply chains.
Fraport AG operates world-leading facilities, including Frankfurt Airport, one of the most important aviation flows in Europe. With over 80 million passengers annually, Fraport is at the forefront of innovations in sustainable airport operations.
