National Highways has appointed Soil Link to trial new approaches in managing and reusing heavy construction materials across its network.

Soil Link’s digital platform and expertise will be used to transform material sourcing and management practices across 4,500 miles of motorways and major A roads.

The trial will aim to drive forward key initiatives in National Highways’ sustainability agenda:

• Environmentally Responsible Sourcing: Through Soil Link’s Material Exchange Platform, National Highways will embed sustainable material management and responsible supply chain practices into its procurement processes.
• Resource Exchange Mechanism: Soil Link will lead the implementation of a national resource exchange mechanism, creating supply chain transparency and enabling industry-wide collaboration and guidance in sustainable material management.
• Embedding Circularity: Supporting National Highways’ 2030 targets, Soil Link’s expertise will be crucial in reducing primary material usage and enhancing waste management across the network.

Will Rundle, CEO of Soil Link, said: “This partnership is a significant milestone for Soil Link, marking a turning point in the sustainability of supply chains across the entire construction industry. We are thrilled to support National Highways in their sustainability journey through the deployment of our digital platform and we are looking forward to witnessing the results of the trial”.

Dean Kerwick-Chrisp, Principal Environmental Advisor at National Highways said: “At National Highways our vision is to have a connected country and a thriving environment. Minimising waste and reusing materials wherever possible is central to achieving this by embedding the principles of a circular economy across our business.

“This new trial will facilitate the trade of surplus materials across UK infrastructure projects. I am pleased that Soil Link’s service is now available to all our projects and look forward to seeing the positive impact it can have.”