Barnet street resurfacing cuts carbon by 93% using low-carbon asphalt and electric plant

Marlborough Highways, Holcim UK, and Low Carbon Materials resurfaced three streets in Barnet, London, using a combination of low-carbon asphalt and electric construction equipment. The project cut estimated CO2e emissions from 62.34 tonnes to 4.49 tonnes, a reduction of nearly 93%, while completing the work in six days without disrupting traffic. The carbon savings came mainly from material choices. The team used Holcim SuperLow asphalt for binder and wearing courses, plus ACLA, a carbon-negative additive from Low Carbon Materials, in the binder course. Electric plant including a roller and disc cutter, charged on a 100% renewable tariff, replaced diesel equipment where possible. HVO-powered plant filled the gaps. The project supports Barnet Council's BarNET ZERO programme, which targets net zero by 2042. It shows that routine road maintenance can deliver large carbon cuts using off-the-shelf materials and existing electric equipment, without added cost or delays. For anyone tracking embodied carbon in infrastructure, this is a concrete example worth studying.