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.
Test Track Marks 25 years of Innovation at NCAT
As NCAT looks toward its 40th anniversary in 2026, the center remains focused on helping its partners tackle evolving infrastructure challenges. The next 25 years will continue to prioritize collaborative research that equips sponsors with the data, tools and confidence needed to implement high-performing asphalt solutions.
Established in 1986 through a collaboration between Auburn University and NAPAREF, NCAT addresses the needs of maintaining America’s pavement infrastructure through practical research and development initiatives.
“For 25 years, our sponsors and staff have helped turn innovation into practice, and we are confident the next 25 will bring even greater advances for the asphalt community and the traveling public. The Test Track and our labs have shown what’s possible when research and real-world needs come together.”
Randy West, Director
National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT)
PEC Explores Innovative Asphalt Materials for High-Stress Pavements
NAPA’s Pavement Economics Committee wrapped up a request for proposal in June seeking to support the use of high-performance asphalt through demonstrating its performance and speed of construction, providing facility owners, engineers, and contractors with evidence-based guidance for the usage of asphalt pavements in high-stress applications.
Going Global: The Road Forward
NAPA’ s first-of-its-kind event brings together global asphalt experts to discuss the industry’s best practices in the pursuit of efficiency and sustainability.
In the fall, The Road Forward International Summit explored innovative solutions and best practices for reducing the carbon footprint associated with asphalt pavements and provided an unparalleled platform for sharing research findings, discussing challenges, and networking with global leaders committed to sustainable pavement technologies. Proceedings will be published in early 2026.
The Summit brought to Chicago leading minds from government, industry, and academia to highlight advances in the asphalt pavement industry that are fueling the decarbonization effort and the journey to NetZero, serving as both a showcase of progress and a catalyst for the collaborative action needed to accelerate the journey toward a sustainable future.
NAPA Senior Director, Sustainability & Intelligent Construction, Amlan Mukherjee joined a special episode of Pave It Black to recount What We Learned at The Road Forward International Summit. (December 2, 2025)
The Road Forward Annual Review: 2025
Launched in 2022, The Road Forward (TRF) outlines the asphalt pavement industry’s commitment to net zero carbon pavement production and construction. In the first quarter of the year, NAPA published The Road Forward: Reflecting on the First Three Years (2022-2024) to encapsulate progress and outcomes. The 2025 review augments that report by examining the program’s fourth year along with ongoing developments.
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Steering Committee Formed, Officers Elected
At NAPA’s Midyear Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the charter for The Road Forward Steering Committee, further formalizing TRF’s governing and operational structure. This committee consists of up to nine members from TRF Partner companies and will help influence strategy, activities, and sabbaticals for the program.
Followed by a nomination period, an August election identified officers to serve through December 2026. Our immense thanks to the following individuals and their companies for their ongoing leadership:
Officers
CHAIR: Heather Dylla, Construction Partners Inc.
VICE CHAIR: Trevor Wagoner, Astec
Raven Adams, Granite Construction
Maure Creager, CertainTeed
Will Gallagher, Gallagher Asphalt
Susan Listberger, Cargill
Courtney Rice, Owens Corning
Ron Sines, CRH Americas Materials
Reports
How DOTs Can Enhance Sustainability and Resilience in Asphalt Pavements Using RAP and RAS
(Climate-Conscious Design Series, March 2025)
When successfully engineered, designed, produced, and constructed, pavements incorporating RAP and RAS contribute to both economic and environmental sustainability while maintaining – or even enhancing – the performance and longevity of the pavement and overall resilience.
14th Annual Asphalt Pavement Industry Survey on Recycled Materials and Warm-Mix Asphalt Usage, 2023 Construction Season
(IS-138, June 2025)
The results of the asphalt pavement industry survey for the 2023 construction season show that asphalt mixture producers have a strong record of employing sustainable practices and continue to increase their use of recycled materials and warm-mix asphalt (WMA).
Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Benefits of Recycled Materials and Warm-Mix Asphalt Usage
(SIP-111, June 2025)
This report showcases the energy and greenhouse gas emission benefits associated with adopting WMA technologies and using recycled materials in asphalt production. Since 2009, NAPA has conducted an annual survey in partnership with FHWA to quantify industry adoption of such environmentally friendly technologies. The findings of this report are intended to compliment the 2023 Construction Season survey (IS-138).
Webinars
A Primer on the Circular Economy
(April 7, 2025)
This webinar discusses the concepts of a circular economy along with recent industry trends and how the circular economy impacts the asphalt business.
Warm Mix Asphalt Update and Half-Warm Mix State of the Knowledge
(August 25, 2025)
This webinar explores WMA technologies already in use across the country and reveal where the industry is headed with half-warm-mix asphalt (HWMA). Attendees receive practical insights into mix design, production techniques, and current usage of WMA.
Implementation of Network-Level Life Cycle Assessment in Pavement Management Systems
(December 10, 2025)
This webinar explores WMA technologies already in use across the country and reveal where the industry is headed with half-warm-mix asphalt (HWMA). Attendees receive practical insights into mix design, production techniques, and current usage of WMA.
Media
States are moving forward with Buy Clean policies despite Trump reversal
(Canary Media, February 20, 2025)
Decarbonizing the asphalt pavement industry
(Rock to Road, May 2, 2025)
New EPD Feature Allows Subscribers to Easily Privatize Data
(NAPA Quarterly, Fall 2025)
The Road Forward Sabbatical
University of Nevada, Reno, Professor Adam Hand is the TRF Sabbatical participant for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For 2025-2026, applications were solicited in Summer 2024, resulting in the selection of UMass Dartmouth Commonwealth Professor Walaa Mogawer.
Energy & Emissions Benefits Report
Explores RAP & WMA
Explores RAP & WMA
Every year, member companies help the industry determine how efficient approaches to asphalt mix production are advancing across the country.
Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and warm-mix asphalt (WMA) usage can lead to greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from transport and fuel use due to using a lower the volume of virgin materials in new pavements and lower burner temperatures.
SIP-111 Energy and Emissions Benefits of RAP and WMA Usage 2023 highlights the environmental benefits of using recycled materials and warm-mix asphalt (WMA) technologies during the 2023 construction season.
This report complements the 2023 Construction Season Recycled Materials and WMA survey report and underscores the asphalt industry’s progress in sustainability.
Key Findings:
RAP
WMA
Use of
avoided
Reduced
production
temperatures
saved
and cut
96.1
2.9
2.1
0.14
million tons
of reclaimed
asphalt pavement
MMT of CO2e
trillion Btu
MMT of CO2e
— comparable to
620,000
cars.
— equal to the emissions of
31,000
cars.
Key Findings:
RAP
Use of
96.1
million tons
of reclaimed
asphalt pavement
avoided
2.9
— comparable to
620,000
cars.
WMA
Reduced
production
temperatures
saved
2.1
trillion Btu
and cut
0.14
— equal to the emissions of
31,000
cars.
Meeting the Moment on Regulatory Issues
With common sense regulations, the industry can innovate and lead the way.
NAPA continues to monitor PFAS regulations. In September, under Court order, EPA recognized the inherent unfairness in potential liability associated with the unknowing capture and use of remnant PFAS in recycled and manufactured products, but let their 2024 rule stand with the idea the Agency would “continue to collect information on … costs and benefits” associated with passive receivership as they look toward other regulatory and statutory vehicles. Further, in EPA’s Sept 2025 Announcement, the Agency identified “[t]he best, most enduring solution to this issue is a statutory fix to protect passive receivers from liability, which EPA would follow to the letter of the law. EPA stands ready to provide technical assistance to Congress as requested on this issue.”
While a broad generic PFAS ‘passive receiver’ liability shield continues to be pursued in Congress, bipartisan passage of such legislation will be difficult. However, a framework for EPA’s identified statutory ‘fix’ already exists under the 1999 Superfund Recycling Equity Act (SREA) which exempts CERCLA liability for similarly-recycled materials like scrap tire rubber, scrap metals, paper and plastic, and others. Coupled with recent FAA-sponsored research conducted by the University of Florida, identifying that recycling PFAS-containing pavements are protective of the environment, NAPA is putting a full-press on the introduction of a stand-alone amendment to SREA.
PFAS - National Asphalt Pavement Association
Promoting Realistic, Science-Based Regulation with Research and Compliance
Over the decades, NAPA has continued to promote realistic EH&S regulation based on credible science. NAPA has always tried to work to find solutions to regulatory and compliance-related issues. One good example is when OSHA initiated its rulemaking process for the Silica Standard. Instead of adversity, NAPA welcomed a partnership with the Agency to find an appropriate solution. Fast forward and silica control systems are now part of common OEM milling machine equipment, ensuring seamless compliance with OSHA’s Silica Standard.
Asphalt Pavements and Urban Smog
In 2020, Yale University and co-investigator Carnegie Mellon University identified that in-service / in-place asphalt pavements may be / are a major contributor to urban smog. These findings were reiterated by EPA in subsequent publications with the other two universities.
In response, and in coalition with Asphalt Institute, Eurobitume, and European Asphalt Pavement Association, research was completed in early 2025. University of California – Riverside (UCR) identified that the asphalt pavement emissions factor/rate was approximately four orders of magnitude (1,000 times) lower than what was published by Yale. Given the importance of this work and potential political outfall due to contradicting highly respected academic institutionsd and EPA, UCR spent considerable time (re)proving-up and supporting their findings.
Asphalt Pavements and Urban Smog
In September 2025, UCR submitted its findings to ES&T, a preeminent journal that originally published Yale’s (and EPA’s) findings. Unfortunately, ES&T’s chief editor rejected UCR’s research findings publication submittal because it “wasn’t novel.”
UCR has now submitted their findings to a sister journal. We are confident the submitted research will be accepted by this or a similar journal. Once published, CARE will expend effort and resources to communicate these updated, valid, and credible results – that asphalt pavement is NOT a source of urban smog.
Data is King in the Sustainability Space
Data is king in the sustainability space and NAPA continues to serve as a conduit between industry, academia, and government through its research and survey efforts.
In August, NAPA solicited comments on the Product Category Rules (PCR) for Asphalt Mixtures, version 2.1. The purpose of the mid-cycle update was to:
- Expand the geographic applicability of the PCR to include Mexico in addition to Canada and the United States, following the same roadmap of regionalizing upstream datasets and harmonizing with Mexican standardizing organization, Organismo Nacional de Normalización y Certificación de la Construcción y Edificación (ONNCCE).
- Update definitions of EPD types to align with the ACLCA Guidance for Determining EPD Types and Calculating and Communicating Data Specificity Through the Supply Chain.
- Update guidance for the use of PCRs and EPDs for upstream materials use.
- Clarify independent third-party verification of the Emerald Eco-Label tool, the underlying LCA, and recent updates including the addition of Simulator tool and the Quality Control program, which add to the transparency and veracity of asphalt EPDs.
Version 2.1 has completed a public comment period and been independently verified by a review panel and is soon to be released for public use.
Meanwhile, the work on updating the PCR to version 3 is already underway with an update to the underlying LCA being conducted at the same time. The LCA is looking to extend the scope to include the construction life cycle stage (A4 – A5) for asphalt mixtures. We are harmonizing and coordinating with the PCR that is being developed by ARRA for asphalt recycling operations. A data collection process for A4 – A5 is currently being conducted, we look forward to your participation in sustaining an updated industry representative LCA for asphalt mixtures. Version 3 of the PCR is expected to be in use by April of 2027.
Data Privacy Features Empower EPD Publishers
Asphalt mix producers using NAPA’s Emerald Eco-Label (EEL) tool to publish and manage their environmental product declarations (EPDs) gained even more ways to customize who can access that data. A new EEL feature allows account owners to denote whether published EPD data is available to the public or reserved only for selected customers.
Market Access
As of December 2025, public EPDs in Emerald Eco-Label is being made available to third party tools like EC3 that provide private market customers direct access to asphalt plants with EPDs. We have also learned that major customers such as Google and Amazon are viewing TRF partner companies preferentially as potential vendors with commitments to decarbonization similar to their own goals of reducing Scope 3 emissions (some partner companies may have been contacted by a consultant working on behalf of a customer). As a contrast to public procurement scenarios where EPDs are being required, in private markets EPDs are providing competitive advantage and market access.
40 Asphalt Plants ENERGY STAR Certified
While activity quieted with the new administration, asphalt producers continued their commitment to efficient practices. By July, 40 asphalt plants achieved ENERGY STAR® Certification – more than any industrial sector in its first participating year.
ENERGY STAR certification is awarded by the EPA to manufacturing plants that score in the top 25% of energy performance nationwide, based on the ENERGY STAR Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) tool developed in collaboration with industry partners. The EPA continues to certify asphalt plants participating in the volunteer process.
Six asphalt mix plants from NAPA members were recognized at the Annual Meeting as 2025 ENERGY STAR Certified Facilities. Four of those six plants are owned by subsidiaries of CRH Americas: Cadillac Asphalt’s Rawsonville Plant in Belleville, Michigan, Callanan Industries’ Cordell Road Drum Plant in Schenectady, New York, Inland Asphalt’s Sullivan Plant in Spokane, Washington, and Tilcon Connecticut’s New Britain Drum Plant. Rounding out the inaugural list included two plants owned by Rogers Group, their Candora Asphalt Plant in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Huntsville Plant in Alabama.
“Empowering your crews to take ownership of their plant is key. When you can get them to care about the condition of the plant, cleanliness, maintenance, and efficiency become a matter of pride – and the crew that runs Candora is very proud of their plant.”
Candora Plant Manager
NAPA Awards Spotlight the Industry’s Best
Operational Excellence. Quality in Construction. For NAPA members, these are more than platitudes, they are hard-won bragging rights that their companies perform just as well as the pavements we produce. NAPA Quarterly continued its focus through profiles on the award-winners that reveal how some of our nation’s best laid asphalt pavements are made.
Prestige Awards
Read about the 2024 NAPA Award winners below.
Sheldon G. Hayes Award – Lindy Paving
Ray Brown Airport Pavement Award – S.T. Wooten Corp.
Larry H. Lemon Awards for Quality in Construction (QIC) – Shelly & Sands Inc. (2); Earle Asphalt Co. (2); E&B Paving; Apex Paving Co., Delta Companies Inc. ; Gerken Paving, Inc. ; Summers-Taylor, Inc. ; Volunteer Paving – selected from 269 QIC Award Recipients.
2025 Diamond Commendations
236
Achievement
216
Sustainable
152
Quality
30
Paving
18
Terminal
Shining Bright with a Diamond
NAPA’s new application window approach –targeting commendation submissions between April and August – meant members were able to share the big news with their community even earlier in the paving season, giving companies a great platform for communicating about projects, job openings, and more.
Operational Excellence
Community Involvement
Lehman Roberts Co.
Community Involvement
Callanan Industries
Community Involvement
O&G Industries
Enviromental Leadership
Tilcon
APA sets sights on actionable deployment
With the hiring of Executive Director Mike Skinner, the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) set a new course for growing the asphalt pavement market.
The APA honored the Illinois Tollway with a Perpetual Pavement Award at The Road Forward International Summit in Chicago, one of dozens handed out to pavements that stand the test of time either through performance, by design, or through conversion. Also receiving a Perpetual Pavement Award: a 9-mile stretch of “The Mother Road,” Route 66 in New Mexico.