Binders

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) December 09, 2011

Asphalt Systems, Inc. (ASI) recently submitted its asphalt preservation product, GSB-88? emulsion, to a rigorous and complete Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The assessment was conducted in accordance with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines and qualifications, which examines manufacturing activities, procurement of raw materials, performance of the product, excess waste disposal, and recyclability to determine whether a product is truly green. With high scores in every category, GSB-88? received the ultimate reward: an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). No other competing asphalt preservation product has ever been submitted to this intense and comprehensive process.

Jay Walters, ASI?s CEO, commented: ?We knew that GSB-88? had a significant, positive impact on the environment because it can often double the life of roads, runways, and parking lots, thus reducing the need to replace the asphalt as often. With this LCA and EPD, we now have proof that the composition of the product itself is environmentally ?Green.? ?

Instead of casually calling a product ?Green?, this academically rigorous, internationally accepted evaluation process includes all three phases of a product life cycle assessment. The three phases include the environmental impact measured by eight evaluation criteria being applied to 1) each component part of a product, 2) the actual use of the product, and 3) the eventual recycling or disposal of a product. ASI believes that if GSB-88? is utilized to help preserve existing asphalt, on a global level, it could save up to 1.2 million metric tons of CO? equivalent per year and billions of dollars.

The categories used by IERE to evaluate GSB-88? were:

-Climate change ????????????????

-Acidification

-Eutrophication ????????????????

-Human and ecotoxicity

-Photochemical smog????????

-Fossil fuel depletion

-Mineral resource depletion????

-Water use

View LCA data

A team of independent parties and industry experts, led by the Institute for Environmental Research & Education (IERE), worked together to create the Product Category Rule (PCR) for this product class. The PCR was then reviewed by a team led by an LCA certified professional. It is the first PCR listed in the National Product Category Rule Repository for pavement preservation, and is now available for all other companies to utilize in assessing the environmental and life cycle impacts of their pavement preservation products. It can be found at ASI News

Dr. Rita Schenck, IERE Executive Director, is delighted with the outcome. ?For years we have believed that business needs to drive environmentalism. This partnership with ASI is a perfect example of business taking the lead to prove the impacts of their product, and challenging their industry to step up and follow suit. Everyone wins in this scenario – the environment, industry and the economy.?

The United States has almost 2 million miles of asphalt ? enough to circle the earth 80 times. The U.S. also continues to produce approximately 550 million tons of asphalt each year to construct new roads, and to replace and repair existing roads. These numbers illustrate the enormous impact asphalt has on the environment.

Both ASI and IERE encourage other pavement preservation product companies to develop their own Environmental Product Declarations, based on the Product Category Rule developed by IERE and a team of independent parties. ASI is confident that GSB-88? will continue to be the world?s gold standard when choosing an environmentally and economically superior pavement preservation product.

The full reports can be found at http://www.asphaltsystemsinc.com and http://www.iere.org

In addition to the environmental assessment, the US Navy Facilities Command recently concluded a four-year study of the performance of GSB-88?, which proved that the product significantly increased the useful life of asphalt pavements and could potentially save the Department of Defense hundreds of millions of dollars in costs. The conclusions from these studies validate the assertion that GSB-88? saves money and helps to preserve the environment. It is now the only product that can prove these two assertions through LCA and EPD documentation.

GSB-88? is a triple-win for the environment and businesses because it:

1) Saves the environment – Not repaving as often reduces asphalt manufacturing and use. Using GSB-88? could save up to 100,000 miles of roads per year in the United States.

2) Saves resources – Product application takes less time, uses less petroleum and other resources, and requires less equipment & fuel.

3) Saves money – Is applied less frequently, and gets up to a 400% Return On Investment for taxpayers.

For decades, ASI has recognized the necessity for its products to be responsive to the environment and to provide economic benefit through high performance results. GSB-88? is a unique gilsonite-based, emulsified sealer-binder formulation that seals and binds asphalt pavements by reintroducing the oils and resins that have been lost through oxidation and normal use of the asphalt. It is a non-carcinogenic, non-toxic, water-based formulation that employs no coal tars.

Asphalt Systems, Inc. (ASI) has been manufacturing gilsonite-based products for over 40 years. They are dedicated to producing the best in asphalt preservation products, and offering unmatched services and assistance to the asphalt preservation industry. They can be reached at 1-801-972-2757. Or, visit their website at http://www.asphaltsystemsinc.com

The Institute for Environmental Research & Education (IERE) is a Washington State-based nonprofit. Their mission is to undertake and disseminate comprehensive, fact-based research for use in the development of responsible environmental policy, programs and decisions. They can be reached at 253-208-9702. Or, visit their website at http://www.iere.org.

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