On 1 October 2025, Poland's Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas (IETU) hosted an international workshop in Katowice on the use of recycled tyre materials in road construction. The event, titled “The Use of Recyclates from Tyre Processing in Road Construction: Rubberised Asphalt Applications,” brought together over 50 participants from ten European countries, including representatives from industry, research institutions, certification bodies, and local governments.

Co-organised with the European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA) under the EU-funded LIFE – RE-PLAN City LIFE project, the workshop focused on sharing knowledge and practical experience in applying recycled tyre rubber to asphalt mixtures. Experts discussed key benefits such as durability, reduced noise, and improved resistance, while addressing technical and regulatory challenges related to Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA), Highly Modified Asphalt (HiMA), and Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA).

A central topic of discussion was the need for updated national standards and stronger support for Green Public Procurement (GPP) to promote wider adoption of rubberised asphalt. Participants agreed that clearer regulations and consistent inclusion of sustainability criteria like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) in tenders would accelerate progress.

The workshop also featured a field visit to the DROGOPOL Sp. z o.o. plant in Piekary Śląskie, where attendees observed the production of rubber-powder-modified asphalt prepared specifically for the event. The demonstration underlined the technical feasibility and environmental value of circular materials in road construction.

By linking science, policy, and industry, the Katowice workshop reinforced a clear message: integrating recycled rubber into asphalt is not only viable but an essential step toward building more sustainable, circular roads across Europe.

Learn more about the topic in the article published by RE-PLAN City LIFE.