Name: Embracing recyclable materials for a sustainable rail future
Uploaded: 2023-11-03T02:31:45.865Z
Duration: 280.8
Description: Join Dr Clarissa Han, the Chief Technology Leader, Sustainability and Materials Performance for the NTRO, on a journey to explore how recyclable materials are transforming the rail industry. Learn why conventional virgin steel, concrete, and ballast contribute to a significant carbon footprint and how recycled alternatives are reshaping the landscape.

Clarissa Han 2.mp4

Clarissa Han 2.vtt

Subtitles

{{00:00:12}}
If we are talking about conventional
virgin materials, I think it will

{{00:00:17}}
be the steel, concrete, and the
ballast that will contribute the most

{{00:00:22}}
to the carbon footprint mainly due
to the fact that the manufacturing

{{00:00:28}}
process are highly energy intensive.

{{00:00:38}}
There are quite a lot of
recycled materials that can

{{00:00:43}}
be used as alternatives.

{{00:00:45}}
In 2022, the NTRO has published the
best practice advice on the use of

{{00:00:51}}
recycled materials for transport
infrastructure, both rail and roads.

{{00:00:56}}
In that report, we have identified and
reported the top 10 recycled materials

{{00:01:03}}
that have been demonstrated in different
parts of the transport infrastructure.

{{00:01:08}}
For example, the optimized use of
recycled aggregates, recycled crushed

{{00:01:13}}
glass, recycled plastics, recycled
demolished waste, recycled concrete

{{00:01:19}}
and bricks, reclaimed asphalt
pavement, and also the recycled

{{00:01:24}}
organics have all been demonstrated
in various rail and road projects.

{{00:01:30}}
Despite all of this program benefits,
there are still a lot of challenges.

{{00:01:45}}
For example, for those emerging
materials to seek type approval from

{{00:01:50}}
different infrastructure managers
may take very long time and also to

{{00:01:55}}
build a recycle first mentality for
the whole industry is not trivial.

{{00:02:00}}
From our recent study of the market
maturity and supply chain evaluation,

{{00:02:05}}
we did identify some key factors or
barriers in the growth of the market.

{{00:02:13}}
For example, the generally low
familiarity with a product.

{{00:02:18}}
The benefits and market opportunities
and also the environmental

{{00:02:23}}
regulations falling behind our
community and industry expectations.

{{00:02:28}}
You may also find that recycled
infrastructure and products are

{{00:02:33}}
inconsistent across our nation.

{{00:02:36}}
And there are potential supply shortfalls
due to the limitations of the capacity and

{{00:02:41}}
also the mismatch between the demand and
supply in different geographic locations.

{{00:02:47}}
Further, the unstable demand of
those replacement materials have been

{{00:02:54}}
leading to the unstable supply as well.

{{00:02:57}}
Again, all of these challenges can
be turned into opportunities if

{{00:03:01}}
stronger actions can be implemented
to really support the circular economy

{{00:03:06}}
and the decarbonization economy.

{{00:03:15}}
There are many aspects we can work
collaboratively to really improve the

{{00:03:21}}
market confidence and market uptake.

{{00:03:24}}
But I want to emphasize two aspects,
firstly we'd love to work with

{{00:03:29}}
organizations in the railway sector
to increase their awareness of the

{{00:03:33}}
products, the feasibility, performance,
and the benefit and market opportunity.

{{00:03:40}}
The second aspect is we'd love to
work with organizations to really

{{00:03:44}}
help them to manage the risks.

{{00:03:47}}
As all of our rail operations are
highly safety critical, we don't want

{{00:03:52}}
to run the risks due to the material
selection of the infrastructure

{{00:03:56}}
construction and maintenance.

{{00:03:59}}
NTRO, our national materials
laboratories have been set up since 1960.

{{00:04:05}}
We have a very mature process of quality
control and quality assurance of the

{{00:04:11}}
materials testing and verification.

{{00:04:14}}
So all the data and evidence that
we have collected and reported

{{00:04:18}}
are solid and substantial.

{{00:04:19}}
That is why I believe the scientific
rigorous evidence based approach is

{{00:04:25}}
the only way to help the organizations
to minimize the potential risk

{{00:04:30}}
and to achieve the desired outcome
from this sustainable procurement.

If we are talking about conventional
virgin materials, I think it will

be the steel, concrete, and the
ballast that will contribute the most

to the carbon footprint mainly due
to the fact that the manufacturing

There are quite a lot of
recycled materials that can

In 2022, the NTRO has published the
best practice advice on the use of

recycled materials for transport
infrastructure, both rail and roads.

In that report, we have identified and
reported the top 10 recycled materials

that have been demonstrated in different
parts of the transport infrastructure.

For example, the optimized use of
recycled aggregates, recycled crushed

glass, recycled plastics, recycled
demolished waste, recycled concrete

and bricks, reclaimed asphalt
pavement, and also the recycled

organics have all been demonstrated
in various rail and road projects.

Despite all of this program benefits,
there are still a lot of challenges.

For example, for those emerging
materials to seek type approval from

different infrastructure managers
may take very long time and also to

build a recycle first mentality for
the whole industry is not trivial.

From our recent study of the market
maturity and supply chain evaluation,

we did identify some key factors or
barriers in the growth of the market.

For example, the generally low
familiarity with a product.

The benefits and market opportunities
and also the environmental

regulations falling behind our
community and industry expectations.

You may also find that recycled
infrastructure and products are

And there are potential supply shortfalls
due to the limitations of the capacity and

also the mismatch between the demand and
supply in different geographic locations.

Further, the unstable demand of
those replacement materials have been

Again, all of these challenges can
be turned into opportunities if

stronger actions can be implemented
to really support the circular economy

There are many aspects we can work
collaboratively to really improve the

But I want to emphasize two aspects,
firstly we'd love to work with

organizations in the railway sector
to increase their awareness of the

products, the feasibility, performance,
and the benefit and market opportunity.

The second aspect is we'd love to
work with organizations to really

As all of our rail operations are
highly safety critical, we don't want

to run the risks due to the material
selection of the infrastructure

NTRO, our national materials
laboratories have been set up since 1960.

We have a very mature process of quality
control and quality assurance of the

So all the data and evidence that
we have collected and reported

That is why I believe the scientific
rigorous evidence based approach is

the only way to help the organizations
to minimize the potential risk

and to achieve the desired outcome
from this sustainable procurement.

Connect Rail

Expert Insight

Join Dr Clarissa Han, the Chief Technology Leader, Sustainability and Materials Performance for the NTRO, on a journey to explore how recyclable materials are transforming the rail industry. Learn why conventional virgin steel, concrete, and ballast contribute to a significant carbon footprint and how recycled alternatives are reshaping the landscape.