Insights
Our experts share their thoughts on asphalt sustainability, innovation, safety and creating a culture of care.
Sustainability
From Black to Green: Polyco’s Sustainability Journey
To me, building a sustainable infrastructure is a moral obligation. For the foreseeable future, humans will need roofs for shelter and roads for transportation. Asphalt is a core (albeit overlooked) ingredient in both instances. However, the general public has a narrow view of what asphalt is, how it’s used, and…
Good Binders Make RAP and RAS Better
As more DOT specifications call for increased percentages of recycled materials in asphalt hot mix, many still need to be convinced about the performance of pavements paved with RAP and/or RAS. Additionally, there’s confusion over the environmental and financial impact of using recycled materials. These are all valid concerns. However,…
Paving the Way for Sustainable Streets in Fort Worth
We recently partnered with Texas Materials (formerly TexasBit) to pave city streets in downtown Fort Worth using their multi-purpose asphaltic concrete, MAC Mix. The project resulted in a dense graded ARHM with a smooth, dark finish — but the kicker here is that the asphalt mix included up to 11%…
Innovative Business, Family Style
Founded in 1994, Polyco entered the asphalt market as a small, family-owned business with big goals. Tom Nichols, our founder, recognized a need for better-engineered roofing and, eventually, paving solutions that embraced a green model of stability. Starting with nothing more than an idea on a napkin, $400, and a…
Polyco makes inroads into Northern California
For years contractors in California have tried to incorporate used tire rubber into asphalt to extend the life of their roadways but with limited success. Recently, Polyco landed contracts in Northern California to assist with several paving projects powered by our proprietary Rapid Digestion Process™ (RDP), SigmaBond a revolutionary asphalt that…
Independent Studies Prove that SigmaBond Results in Upcycled Performance
Focusing on what's possible is at the core of everything Polyco does. One of the innovations we are most excited about is the technology we’ve developed to reduce landfill waste by recycling waste tires. While there are many ways to recycle tires, Polyco’s patented Rapid Digestion Process (RDP) completely liquefies…
What AB 661 Means for Asphalt Sustainability in California
On September 25th, Governor Newsom signed a new bill into law that will enhance the sustainability of California roads. Assembly Bill 661 expands the state’s existing State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) to include more recycled materials in pavements. Here are a few of the highlights: For recycled tire-derived products…
The Sustainable Benefits of Terminal Rubber Modified Slurry Seal (TRMSS)
In my last post, we outlined the nuances between different types of slurry seals. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of terminal rubber modified slurry seal (TRMSS) and the significance of it for our partners in California. Using up to 80 percent more aggregate per…
Learning from the Past to Succeed in the Future
As we settle into the new year, I’m reminded of the challenges the asphalt industry faced in 2021 and how we’ve worked (and continue to work) to rise above them. From pandemic-related shutdowns and extreme weather in several of our markets to workforce retention and supply chain setbacks, we’ve watched…
Engineered to Perform
More than 25 years ago, I started Polyco with $400 and a napkin with the name inscribed on it in my pocket. I went from lab technician at a large corporation to CEO at a company of one (I was also chief janitor, R&D, customer service and sales). I’ve been…