Infrastructure investment is widely recognised as a crucial driver of economic development and while the quality, quantity and accessibility of economic infrastructure in developing countries lag considerably behind those in advanced economies, scaling up infrastructure investment is widely seen as a key pillar in national development strategies in low-income developing countries. In fact, enhancing infrastructure is a key component of the 2030 Development Agenda, mentioned explicitly in three of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals; SDG 6, 7 & 9. It is worth noting that it is essential for achieving many of the other SDGs.
Roads make a crucial contribution to economic development and growth and bring important social benefits. They are of vital importance in order to make a nation grow and develop. In addition, providing access to employment, social, health and education services makes a road network crucial in fighting against poverty. Roads open up more areas and stimulate economic and social development. For those reasons, I believe that road infrastructure is the most important of all public assets.
Close the Loop is an Australian company that are the developers of TonerPlas™; an award-winning asphalt additive. This additive is a key ingredient to making high performance asphalt roads that last longer and require less maintenance than traditional asphalt. The additive is manufactured from recovered waste printer toner (a high-grade polymer) and post-consumer soft plastics acquired from numerous chain supermarket recycling bins. It is an example of innovative re-use of materials that were otherwise destined for the landfill.
Moving towards a more circular economy, with products and services such as TonerPlas™, can deliver huge benefits such as reducing pressure on the environment, improving the security of the supply of raw materials, increasing competitiveness, stimulating innovation, boosting economic growth, and creating jobs!