2024 Annual Report
STEWARDSHIp
Grow the industry by delivering expertise and programs that advance the safe, sustainable, responsible, and resilient production and construction of asphalt pavements and promote excellence.
Champion the advantages of asphalt pavements through the lenses of engineering, economic, environmental, and social benefits.
Industry Welcomes Return of Perpetual Pavement Conference
Perpetual pavements take center stage in Louisville
For the first time, NAPA led the programming of the Perpetual Pavement Conference and it was a return to form after a decade-long hiatus since its last iteration in 2014. Speakers presented on more than 25 papers on long-lasting pavements, plus two workshops, and numerous networking opportunities.
23 Years of Research at NCAT
Buzz Powell, NCAT’s original Test Track manager, presented findings from 23 years of research at NCAT.
Balanced Mix Designs
Ross Bentsen presented on Balanced Mix Designs for Illinois Tollway Perpetual Pavements.
Asphalt Pavement Alliance Annual Report
You’ve heard it before: Asphalt delivers, and when it comes to sharing that message with road owners and the public, the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) is mission-aligned to succeed. Founded and supported through a partnership between NAPA and the Asphalt Institute, the APA deployed Technical Director Buzz Powell to speak at more than 50 regional and national conferences in 2024, building on a new vision for the APA as it makes the case for asphalt from coast to coast.
Perpetual Pavement Pioneer Award
NAPA presented the inaugural Dave Newcomb Perpetual Pavement Pioneer Award to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Professor Emeritus Marshall Thompson — Newcomb, a former NAPA employee, passed away in March. Newcomb pioneered the design methodology for long-lasting pavements through and coined the phrase ‘perpetual pavement.’
Sustainability Through Recycling and Reducing Temperatures
Asphalt pavement is already the nation’s most recycled product. Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and warm-mix asphalt (WMA) can lower the amount of virgin materials used in new pavements as well as the burner temperature, leading to greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from transport and fuel use.
NAPA’s annual recycled materials survey found that during the 2022 construction season, WMA usage represented 23.5% of the asphalt pavement market. The industry also reused 98.1 million tons of RAP— a 75% increase from 2009.
WMA usage represented
23.5%
of the asphalt
pavement market
The industry utilized
98.1M
tons of RAP
A 75% increase since 2009
greenhouse gas
emissions
reduced by
4.9M
Tons of asphalt
binder saved
greenhouse gas
emissions
reduced by
93M
Tons of
aggregate saved
GHG
emissions
reduced by
2.7M
metric tons
CO2e
RAP usage in 2022 saved the United States 4.9 million of tons of asphalt binder and more than 93 million tons of aggregate while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2.7 million metric tons CO2e — the equivalent of taking 600,000 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
The Carbon Footprint of Asphalt Pavements:A Reference Document for Decarbonization
NAPA released a report focused on actions across the industry that can be taken to reduce GHG emissions.
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Meeting Challenges on Policy & Regulations
NAPA continues to promote common sense regulations that allow the industry to innovate and lead the way.
IN FOCUS: ‘Forever’ chemicals
Over the last few years, environmental agencies have increasingly focused on impacts associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever’ chemicals because they are unable to degrade in the environment. Although the asphalt pavement industry does not use, manufacture, or intentionally add PFAS to pavements, recent published studies suggest that some airfield pavements may contain PFAS from firefighting foam remnants deposited on airfields during periodic FAA-required training at over 5,000 commercial airports across the United States. In May 2024, EPA finalized its Rule designating some PFAS chemistries as ‘Superfund’ hazardous substances, potentially holding owners that transport or store such materials liable for any and all cleanup costs associated with resultant PFAS environmental contamination. Throughout the year, NAPA continued to advocate, with regulatory agencies and Congress, that unknowing or passive receivers of such materials be afforded liability protection.
As part of NAPA’s 2025 priorities, we will continue to promote legislative and regulatory vehicles that ensure protection for those unknowing passive receivers of PFAS-containing airfield pavements.
The Road Forward Enters Year 4
“We’re all fighting against the status quo. Change is hard, but I’m proud that the industry is committed to making significant progress toward zero carbon.”
Susan Listberger, Global Industry Manager for Cargill
“In 2021, NAPA leadership recognized the importance of creating industry goals to chart a sustainable path forward for the industry,” NAPA Vice President for Engineering, Research, & Technology Richard Willis said. “Continued member support of The Road Forward empowers asphalt pavement industry stakeholders to play an active role in shaping the national dialogue on carbon emission goals in road construction. It’s easier to stay prepared than to get prepared, and as our coalition grows, so does our ability to head off specifications and restrictions that could negatively impact the industry.”
The Road Forward is excelling because it was designed by members and is widely supported by the industry. To date, 36 NAPA member companies of all types and sizes have signed on and stayed on. The first two to do so were Peckham Industries and Cargill Asphalt Solutions.
“As an asphalt mix producer, Peckham is excited to see the continued efforts to make The Road Forward accessible to all contractors across the country,” said Will Hadeka, General Manager for Peckham Industries. “The collaboration that The Road Forward provides is key in driving innovative solutions on our journey to a net zero future.”
“Cargill continues to invest in NAPA and The Road Forward because it aligns with our mission to help build the most sustainable and resilient roads in terms of performance, people, planet, and profit,” said Susan Listberger, Global Industry Manager for Cargill.
Wrestling With Resilience
In its first year, The Road Forward Sabbatical Program examined agile adaption in pavement construction, led by Professor Jo Sias with the University of New Hampshire.
The Sabbatical Program for university faculty provides the opportunity for professors to actively participate in the industry’s pursuit of net zero carbon pavements through direct engagement with asphalt pavement professionals. Participants join an exclusive community of scholars that forge lasting relationships within our industry.
New Fellowship Offers Opportunities for Collaboration
The first application window for NAPA’s fellowship program launched in late 2024, representing NAPA’s latest effort to bridge industry and academia.
The NAPA Fellows program is designed to empower professors and post-doctoral researchers actively involved in asphalt research and is aimed at stimulating innovative research and development within the asphalt pavement sector.
The fellowship program equips emerging scholars with the resources and support to explore and address critical challenges in asphalt pavement technology. Project proposals for 2025 include developing an online course on sustainable asphalt practices and overseeing the creation of a framework for explaining the value of balanced mix design (BMD).
Partners Pave the Way
The following companies supported The Road Forward as partners in 2024:
Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) 4th generation Engineering Research Center (ERC). NAPA joined ASPIRE’s Industry & Innovation Board in July.
“As the national voice for the asphalt pavement industry, we are excited to partner with ASPIRE to inform their work on electrified pavements.” said NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland “Sharing knowledge of current and evolving asphalt pavement design and paving practices is key to NAPA’s membership, and we are always looking down the road to evaluate and contribute to the development of emerging policies, practices, and techniques.”
Every Day Counts 7 and EPDs
Sustainable infrastructure innovations promoted in FHWA’s EDC-7 included EPDs for Sustainable Project Delivery, which meant NAPA’s Emerald Eco-Label took on an expanding role in helping the industry measure its outputs. Companies have now published more than 3,500 EPDs across the country and have participated in various benchmarking efforts to help steer reasonable regulations.
Emerald Eco-Label in 2024
256
New Participating
Plants in 2024
102
New Participating
Organizations in 2024
Every Decade Counts
Learn the history of Every Day Counts from the FHWA Administrator who started it. NAPA Quarterly caught up with the former FHWA Administrator who set the EDC initiative into motion in 2009 and was eventually confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Transportation in 2014, Victor Mendez.
“EDC is an opportunity for all of us to discuss and maintain a focus on all facets of safety, which is our highest priority.”
Victor Mendez
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of
Transportation Victor Mendez
Behind the Benchmark
NAPA joined the APA in hosting a webinar exploring the EPD Benchmark for Asphalt Mixtures methodology in May, and revised its report with a second round of data collection in August.
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Asphalt Mix Thresholds
FHWA cited NAPA’s benchmark report in new asphalt mix thresholds guidance as part of its Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Grants Program.
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ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year
NAPA was honored as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by EPA for the second time in as many years for demonstrating exemplary commitment and dedication to leadership in energy efficiency and the ENERGY STAR program. NAPA further participated in ENERGY STAR programming through a June workshop on asphalt mix plant energy efficiency hosted by ASTEC in Chattanooga, Tennessee titled Maximizing Profitability with Energy Management.
APEX UPDATE
The Asphalt Plant Energy Performance Peer Exchange (APEX) is a network of asphalt mixture producers who meet quarterly to exchange information and best practices related to managing energy at asphalt plants. See what it’s all about!
47
Participating
companies
23
industrial
partners
ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry
118
plants
(Allan Myers, ASTEC Industries, Callanan Industries Inc., Capital Materials, Paving, & Construction, Curran Construction, High Desert Aggregates & Paving, and Lindy Paving)
challenge achieved in 2024
3
plants
Recognizing the Best in the Industry
NAPA Quarterly showed off the best the industry has to offer with a new approach to its stories following the trends, best practices, and top projects in asphalt pavement. The new approach presented long-form profiles on the winners of NAPA’s prestigious awards, peeling back the curtain to show what it takes to achieve paving excellence.
Prestige Awards
Read about the 2023 NAPA Award winners by clicking the award logos below.
2023 Diamond Commendations
302
Achievement
194
Achievement Sustainable
153
Quality
27
Paving
20
Terminal
Operational Excellence
community involvement
Lehman Roberts
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community involvement
Callanan INDUSTRIES
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Environmental Leadership
TILCON
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