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       It’s time to break the negative associations we have with green or sustainable products because a new generation is here and changing the game.
       It is not uncommon in the pavement maintenance industry for products marketed as green, environmentally friendly or sustainable to be often labeled as inferior to traditional products.
       There are examples of green pioneers entering the market prematurely, launching the greenest products, only to find that contractors thought they performed poorly and were often more expensive. However, times have changed.
       Not only are modern versions just as good as traditional options, but in some cases one of the reasons these new generation products are greener is because they actually outperform their predecessors under the same usage conditions.
       John Evans, CEO of EverLine Coatings, said: “I wouldn’t say sustainability has disappeared, it’s just been downgraded a little bit. The benefits it brings are just coming from other places. We need to rethink pavement maintenance and reimagine it. It’s not a choice between sustainability, high-quality service and cost savings. These products can achieve all of those goals.”
       Evans’ company offers a wide range of products and services throughout the United States and Canada through a franchise network that covers everything from sealant and striping to asphalt repair and infrared equipment. They primarily serve the commercial real estate market. Evans believes that sustainability and safety go hand in hand.
       “Basically, extending the life of a pavement should be more environmentally friendly,” he explains. “However, beyond that, using a more durable product like MMA can also save costs, provide greater durability and reduce the number of reapplications, thereby reducing job site returns.”
       MMA or Methyl Methacrylate based road marking paint is a tough, two-component road marking system that provides long-lasting, highly visible markings, particularly suitable for high traffic areas and adverse weather conditions. In recent years, MMA based road marking paints have become much more popular among road marking contractors for a number of reasons, with safety and environmental friendliness being two key factors.
       “Property managers certainly want something that has high value,” Evans continued. “But at the same time, some of the larger public companies have their own internal sustainability programs. For contractors, that can be a differentiator. It allows them to build deeper connections with their clients, which can open up new budgets and opportunities.”
       MMA has significantly lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) per liter than water-based road paints, yet it is durable and strong enough to maintain its visibility and integrity. Water-based road paint contains about 150 grams of VOCs per liter, while oil-based road paint contains up to 350-400 grams per liter. MMA contains only 10 grams of VOCs per liter.
       Additionally, water-based paints may need to be repainted annually, while oil-based paints are more durable than methyl methacrylate (MMA) paints and require repainting every two to five years, but their volatile organic compound (VOC) content is an order of magnitude higher. However, MMA has other safety advantages.
       The safety benefits of MMA paving include durability and visibility. Pedestrian crossings at busy intersections, school grounds, parking lots and other locations would be safer if the markings were more visible, drawing drivers’ attention and reminding them to slow down or stop.
       Additionally, MMA becomes reflective by adding glass beads, which can increase surface friction. This means that even if the markers get wet from rain, the glass beads will reduce the risk of people slipping when walking on them.
       Similarly, when using thermoplastic, as it is often laid without proper inlay, a height of 60-90 mm can be achieved. This in itself creates a tripping hazard, especially for older people in the community. The height of the MMA profile is 15-25 mm, which is almost a quarter of the height.
       MMA is also safer for the contractor doing the application because he doesn’t have to work with a heavy and potentially dangerous thermoplastic oven.
       ”We went to the Port of Houston and they were painting the intersection with water-based paint,” Evans said. “They had to repaint it every five to nine days. We started using MMA (methyl methacrylate) a few months ago and we haven’t had to repaint it since.”