Paving a more sustainable path
POROUS LANE (BY WATERSMART)
LOCATION
HEAD OFFICE: Auckland
MANUFACTURING: New Zealand (Mixed on site)
ROLE
Manufacturer – Innovator
TYRES RECYCLED
Truck
WHAT THEY DO
Porous Lane is an innovative permeable pavement solution made using up to 60% recycled tyre material, sourced in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Originally developed by the University of Melbourne, supported by funding from Tyre Stewardship Australia, and proven successful in Australia, Watersmart is now working with Porous Lane as the sole license holder in New Zealand to manufacture the product using locally sourced recycled tyres.
HOW IT WORKS
Porous Lane is made on site using a proprietary formula to create a permeable pavement for use in various applications, ranging from car parks and light-duty driveways to pathways, tree surrounds, and bike lanes.
It has up to 79% less embodied carbon than concrete and up to 45% less than asphalt along with a 25-year design life. Its properties mitigate issues associated with asphalt such as localised flooding while reducing pressure on stormwater systems, as water can soak through its permeable surface into the ground.
It also acts as a filter by removing pollutants and reduces the ‘urban heat island effect’ by 3-4 degrees Celsius when compared with asphalt.
Testing shows it exceeds New Zealand standards for slip and skid resistance, is crack-resistant, flexible, and meets compressive strength and load capacity requirements, while being low maintenance.
"Porous Lane sets a new standard. It combines smart stormwater management that we urgently need in New Zealand, with real circular economy principles, all built into something as everyday as a footpath or driveway."
