Eurobitume seminar in Amsterdam explored the performance and sustainability of polymer-modified bitumen
Eurobitume brought together industry experts in Amsterdam on 14 October 2026 for a dedicated seminar on Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), held as part of its Autumn Meeting. The programme explored PMB technology, pavement design and performance, focusing on durability, environmental sustainability and binder ageing.
Following an overview of the European PMB market by Hervé Millet and an introduction to PMB technology by Ian Lancaster, including the material’s history, Reed Ryan of the Asphalt Institute presented the HiMod Pavement concept, exploring innovative approaches to pavement design and highlighting a case study from Utah, USA.
Environmental sustainability was another key theme of the seminar. Brice Delaporte, Eurobitume’s Sustainability Lead, addressed the environmental aspects of PMB-based road materials, while Professor Fernando Moreno of the University of Granada presented a life cycle assessment of SBS-modified asphalt mixtures, highlighting the relationship between pavement durability and environmental performance.
Eurobitume’s Life Cycle Assessment for Polymer Modified Bitumen provides data for two representative SBS-based PMB grades containing 3.5% and 6% SBS polymer and is aimed at serving as a building block in broader life cycle studies evaluating PMB and its applications.
The technical programme concluded with Sayeda Nahar of the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), who presented work conducted within RILEM Technical Committee PPB on UV and thermal oxidative ageing of SBS-modified binders, examining changes in binder properties and their implications for long-term performance.
The seminar also addressed the recyclability of asphalt containing PMB. Eurobitume’s position statement on recycling asphalt containing PMB confirms that polymer modification does not prevent recycling. More broadly, 96% of asphalt mixtures recovered from road deconstruction in Europe in 2024 were reused or recycled, highlighting the importance of circularity in road construction.
Through this event, which was also attended by some representatives of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure, Eurobitume continued to support technical knowledge sharing on PMB and its role in developing durable and sustainable road infrastructure.
