\n<\/p>\n
As traditional supplies tighten, some companies are looking at alternatives.<\/p>\n
Singapore-based startup Magorium has developed an alternative road-building material made from plastic waste.<\/p>\n
Recent demand for the material \u2013 called NEWBitumen \u2013 has more than tripled both locally and across the region.<\/p>\n
The company said it is now running at full capacity and working to expand production.<\/p>\n
\u201cBitumen comes from crude oil, plastics also come from crude oil,\u201d said the firm’s co-founder Oh Shu Xian.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea is that because we are already generating this plastic as waste, it is something that we can then recover and then reverse engineer it back into another crude oil derivative and use it again in a second life,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith traditional industries, I guess a lot of the processes have been tried and tested for a long period of time, so there’s a more conservative nature in terms of trying things that are new.\u201d<\/p>\n
But she noted that the supply crunch has created an opening for newer and more resilient alternatives.<\/p>\n
For now, Magorium\u2019s material still needs to be blended with traditional bitumen to meet Singapore\u2019s road specifications.<\/p>\n
However, the firm said it is continuing its research and development efforts to eventually create a standalone substitute.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n