A Major Step Forward for Lower Carbon Highway Maintenance
Launched in 2025, ULTIPATCH POTHOLE ZERO marks a significant milestone in decarbonising UK highways maintenance. As Tarmac’s first net zero pothole repair material, it achieves a 100% carbon footprint reduction at gate when compared with the original ULTIPATCH POTHOLE mix. Designed for real world use on busy networks, the product gives contractors and local authorities a practical, immediately deployable way to reduce embodied carbon in essential maintenance activities.
ULTIPATCH POTHOLE ZERO is available in 25kg bags and reusable tubs, providing instant access to zero‑carbon material for both planned and reactive repairs. Its ease of storage, transport and handling also allows maintenance teams to respond quickly to emergency call‑outs or maximise productivity during each shift.
Powered by a Renewable Binder System That Removes Fossil‑Derived Components
The carbon reductions achieved by ULTIPATCH POTHOLE ZERO are made possible through a redesigned binder system that replaces petroleum‑based ingredients with Tarmac’s biobinder, a blend of plant‑based bio‑bitumen and a bio‑based fluxing agent. Because the fluxing agent originates from biogenic materials that sequester carbon during growth, it is carbon‑negative, enabling the overall binder system to reach net zero.
This innovation locks the sequestered carbon into the repaired road structure and removes fossil derived components from the mix design. The result is a lower carbon product that contributes meaningfully to reducing emissions across the UK’s highway repair network.
Supporting Practical Decarbonisation Across the Value Chain
Despite this change in formulation, ULTIPATCH POTHOLE ZERO maintains the same installation process and performance characteristics as the standard ULTIPATCH product. This means maintenance teams can adopt a net zero option without any new training, equipment or changes to working methods, enabling fast, straightforward
transition to lower carbon materials.
Its net zero formulation showcases Tarmac’s commitment to working collaboratively across the value chain, driving innovations that are practical, proven and immediately deployable. As further bio‑based technologies mature, ULTIPATCH POTHOLE ZERO represents an important step in expanding sustainable product choices available to customers and supporting the wider decarbonisation of the UK’s road network.
Looking Ahead
ULTIPATCH POTHOLE ZERO is more than a single product launch, it is the first outcome of a wider programme of lower carbon development focused on creating a new generation of zero carbon construction materials. With further bio-based and renewable binder innovations already in the pipeline, Tarmac is working with partners across the value chain to broaden the availability of zero carbon options the support more sustainable, resilient and cost effective highways maintenance.
