On sustainable routes

• Röhm and SWARCO join forces for environmentally friendly road markings
• Successful launch on a bike lane in Darmstadt

Cycling not only is healthy, but is also often the fastest way to get to your destination in congested cities. More importantly, by opting for a bike instead of a car, you make an important contribution to protecting the environment. The city of Darmstadt has therefore committed itself to increasing the proportion of cyclists in the traffic mix from its current level of 20 percent to one third. For this to succeed, cycling must be made more appealing – for example by expanding the network of bike lanes and introducing new and safe road markings.

Good thing, then, that the Darmstadt-based chemical company Röhm has DEGAROUTE® in its portfolio, a binding agent for road markings that is characterized by outstanding visibility and durability. Road markings made with DEGAROUTE® have been contributing to resource efficiency for several decades thanks to their long service life. As an alternative to its proven binder, Röhm has launched DEGAROUTE® proTerra, which further improves the sustainability of road markings. That’s because DEGAROUTE® proTerra is composed of at least 30 percent recycled methyl methacrylate, thus having a significantly smaller CO₂ footprint.

SWARCO Road Marking Systems, a global manufacturer of road marking systems, has chosen Röhm’s sustainable binder for the development of a pioneering new marking material. The first application of the new product was on a 100 square meter bike lane in Darmstadt. “We are delighted to be considered a key partner by our customers for the development of sustainable and innovative products,” says Holger Tinz, Head of Resin Marketing at Röhm. The two companies are jointly working on various marking materials with the aim of manufacturing them in the most environmentally friendly manner possible through the use of sustainable and recycled raw materials. “With DEGAROUTE® proTerra, Röhm has provided us with exactly the right product to produce our environmentally friendly road marking SWARCOPLAST ECO Tex,” says André Peiter, who is in charge of the project in Darmstadt at SWARCO Road Marking Systems.

The launch of the new material in Darmstadt was a huge success: The application went without a hitch: The material cured in no time and the bike lane could soon be reopened to cyclists. This now gleams in vibrant traffic red and thus also increases the safety of cyclists at the roadside. It is an important step towards a shift in mobility practices and greater sustainability in the city of Darmstadt.

“We would be delighted if the topic of sustainability were to gain momentum in other cities and municipalities too and if more environmentally friendly marking systems were to be adopted,” says Holger Tinz. Röhm has also laid down ambitious sustainability targets: By 2030, Röhm wants to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 30 percent, and the company is aiming for climate-neutral production by 2050.