We have laid the first experimental asphalt section in which part of the bitumen in the mixture was replaced with a bio-based material – lignin. This project is the first attempt by our company with such a mixture, and also one of the first trials of this scale in Lithuania.

For this experiment, we chose an AC11VS asphalt mixture for the upper layer, where 15% of the bitumen was replaced with lignin. Lignin is a natural binding substance found in plants. In industry, it is obtained biochemically from wood residues and can be used as a partial substitute for bitumen. It is a renewable, locally sourced raw material that can help reduce the CO₂ footprint, maintains resistance to moisture and deformation, and has no unpleasant odor during production or paving.

We developed and refined the mixture in our laboratory for almost half a year. With this trial, we aim to assess not only the durability of the pavement itself but also the technological and operational performance of the mixture – whether it has the necessary workability, how its properties change under environmental conditions, and whether this solution would be structurally suitable for further application.

The test section was laid on a city street – a 100-meter-long stretch, next to which an identical section with a conventional asphalt mixture was installed. This setup allows for an objective comparison of the different mixtures’ properties and behavior under real traffic conditions.

We will monitor whether the asphalt retains the necessary properties under practical operating conditions, and how resistance, density, and surface structure change over time. This is only the first stage – at this time we are not making conclusions regarding the mixture’s suitability for wider use. Results and insights will form over time.

The use of lignin in road surfacing mixtures is already being tested in many countries – from Canada, Sweden, and Estonia to the Netherlands. It has been observed that such mixtures are not inferior to traditional ones, while CO₂ emissions are significantly lower.

We care about the environment we live in – that is why we seek ways to build more sustainably without compromising on high quality.