Midwest didn’t wait for environmental issues to become popular. We’ve been seeking the most ecologically responsible methods and safest formulations for over two decades, and still lead the industry in providing alternatives that balance superior performance with natural processes.
NATURALPAVE ROAD STABILIZATION
Upgrade your unpaved roads to NaturalPave
The environmentally positive road stabilization alternative from the innovators of soil stabilization technology.
Everything we make and everything we do reflects a devotion to the environment.
Midwest was founded over 40 years ago with the guiding principle of helping customers solve their problems without creating unintended environmental consequences. Midwest always looks beyond efficacy, creating soil stabilization, dust control, and other surface enhancement technology solutions that protect the delicate ecological balance so important for our health and well-being — today and into the future.
Our customers are committed to sustainable operations with a goal of positive economic, environmental, and social impact while maximizing their resources. Midwest NaturalPave surfacing alternatives all employ green materials and processes that deliver superior stabilization at the same time they protect the land, resources, wildlife and vegetation. That is why Midwest has spent the last 20 years perfecting our chemistries and proving what we knew with testing and data.
Environmental Certifications and Testing
There is no regulation that dictates what a dust suppressant or stabilization agent should or should not contain. We do not feel that customers should rely on the “word” of the vendor that their product is “safe”. Working with various third-party laboratories, regulatory organizations and environmental experts enables us to provide unbiased environmental and toxicity data that we use to develop the best stabilization programs for our customers.
Reduce CO2 and Unlock Federal Funding To Construct Naturalpave Roads
Naturalpave Reduces CO2 Emissions By Over 50%
A recent third-party study, conducted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, evaluated the Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CDE) generated during the construction of roads. The CDE's generated during the construction of NaturalPave roads were compared to those generated during the construction of a traditional unstabilized gravel road.
The study found that constructing roads with Midwest’s NaturalPave system reduced CO2 emissions by up to 53%. As part of the study, laboratory test data was used to calculate the reduction in aggregate base course thickness achieved with Midwest's NaturalPave compared to unbound gravel. The calculations found that a NaturalPave road required 50% of the gravel thickness to support the same traffic as a traditional gravel road.
By reducing the thickness of the aggregate from 20cm to 10cm as determined is possible in the study, the CO2 emission during construction greatly decreased. This is due to the reduced transportation of aggregate to the site which contributes heavily into the generated CO2 emission during construction. The study also compared the CO2 emission generated with each process at various transportation distances to understand how this impacts the overall CO2 emissions generated.
| Suitability Assessment | |||
| Stabilizer | Freeze-thaw durability | Thickness reduction | CO2 emission reduction |
| Styrene butadiene | High | -50% | -53% |
| Acetate A | High | -50% | -53% |
| Acetate B | High | -50% | -53% |
Download an executive summary of the study (PDF)
The reduction of CO2 emissions doesn’t stop after the NatualPave road is installed. Due to the hard, smooth surface of a NaturalPave road, rolling resistance is reduced - resulting in less fuel consumption for vehicles. And unlike traditional gravel roads that can require constant maintenance and annual re-graveling, NaturalPave roads virtually eliminate maintenance activities and extends the gravel life by 2-3X – further reducing CO2 emissions over the life of the road.
Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Asphalt
In addition to the cost savings benefits realized, Midwest's NaturalPave Road Stabilization provides an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional paving methods such as asphalt. The process of manufacturing, installing, and maintaining asphalt pavements creates considerable negative environmental impacts, including the depletion of fossil fuels and minerals, contribution to global warming, human toxicity, and ozone depletion.
- Traditional Paving Methods
– Product of fossil fuel and green house gas dependant mining and transportation operations
– Requires a high volume of crushed rock - a finite and limited resource
– The manufacturing and installation process produces higher volumes of greenhouse gases and emissions
– Installed surface absorbs heat
– Releases harmful and carcinogenic volatile compounds during the installation process - NaturalPave Methods
– Eliminates the need to mine and transport aggregate by utlizing the inplace materials and existing soils
– Less equipment and emissions during the installation
– The installed surface does not absorb heat like asphalt
– Products, installation, and finished surface do not harm vegetation or human health
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