Vegecol

Colas' Vegecol is a pioneering, revolutionary surfacing material. It is an environmentally friendly plant based material made from renewable resources and an alternative to non renewable bitumen and petroleum resin based binders.

Manufactured as an innovative binder Vegecol improves resistance against hydrocarbon spills and provides enhanced fatigue performance. For aesthetic benefits the transparency of Vegecol helps highlight the natural colour of aggregates.

Vegecol can also be pigmented to provide an alternative for decorative and architectural surfacing projects.

Vegecol requires a mixing temperature roughly 40°C lower than conventional mixes, providing considerable energy savings.

Award winning

An award winning product, Colas' Vegecol presents the enormous potential for investment and researching into new technology and breaking the link between pavement construction and the rising cost of bitumen and non renewable resources.

Vegecol is a product developed by the International Colas Groups' Campus of Science and Techniques following a research project which was initiated by Colas in 2003.

Vegecol was first used in the UK on a project in Portsmouth in 2007 as the binder in surfacing footways with coloured asphalt. It has also been successfully used for surfacing pavements at a world heritage site in Durham and in emulsified form for canal towpaths and cycleways for Sustrans.

Benefits

• Reduced emissions and energy through production
• No leaching of contaminants
• Does not contain a single hydrocarbon from refined crude oil
• Aesthetic and decorative finishes are available
• CE Marking in accordance with European standards
• Award winning product
• Achieved international recognition  

Surfacing the Vegetarian Option

The developments and investments into new products and technology are an integral part of Colas' long term vision and investment strategy. Traditionally roads and footpaths have been constructed and maintained with asphalt or surface dressing materials containing bitumen or petroleum resin based binder. New technology and investment from Colas promises to allow durable and aesthetic pavement surfaces containing an environmentally friendly plant based binder. 

Use of Vegecol presents great potential for positive impact on local environments, in terms of the appearance of surfacings and the materials preclusion of bitumen or oil based binder.