A Polish company has developed a floral-scented asphalt in an effort to improve working conditions for construction workers.
The Polish construction firm Budimex and the oil company Lotos have created a floral-scented asphalt, a world-first innovation.
Asphalt is a material widely used in transportation and road construction. It is a high-viscosity liquid or semi-solid that is black in color, found in most crude oils and some natural deposits. If you have ever passed through newly paved roads, you would understand that the smell of asphalt is far from pleasant.
The new asphalt contains a blend of various natural and synthetic essential oils. (Illustrative image).
In an effort to improve working conditions for road workers, experts have devised a way to infuse asphalt with a floral fragrance.
A representative from Budimex stated that while emissions from traditional asphalt are not harmful to humans, the new material developed in Poland is expected to provide a more comfortable working environment for road construction workers.
The new asphalt contains a mixture of natural and synthetic essential oils, which neutralizes the characteristic unpleasant smell of asphalt that many find “uncomfortable.” Meanwhile, the remaining components create a more pleasant aroma.
Slawomir Szpak, the site manager at Budimex, remarked: “There is no longer the typical smell of traditional asphalt; sometimes workers can smell the fragrance of flowers, making construction work more enjoyable.”
Cezary Godziuk, the CEO of Lotos, explained: “The additives used in the asphalt to reduce unpleasant odors are a blend of natural and synthetic essential oils, all of which have a pleasant floral scent.”
Budimex, the largest construction company in Poland, along with the oil and gas company Lotos, believes that the new roadway is more environmentally friendly and they will consider expanding the variety of products and implementing this innovation on a larger scale soon.
Łukasz Bargenda, head of the Budimex laboratories, stated: “This is a promising product and part of the green and ecological trend in construction. Research and laboratory analysis of the asphalt mixture continue. Tests confirm that the floral-scented mixture complies with Polish road standards without compromising quality.”
