Coast Pavement Services, a Portland, Oregon-based pavement maintenance and asphalt paving contractor founded in 1969, has announced the formation of a subsidiary division called RePlay West to commercialize and distribute a biobased pavement rejuvenator across the Pacific Northwest and California. The development marks a significant step in the growing intersection of asphalt pavement engineering mix design construction methods rehabilitation and sustainable infrastructure practices. By bringing an innovative, environmentally focused product to market through a dedicated division, Coast Pavement Services is positioning itself at the forefront of a shift toward greener pavement preservation technologies that promise both economic and ecological benefits for roads and parking lots throughout the western United States.
RePlay West: A New Division Built on Sustainable Innovation
RePlay West was created specifically to market and distribute the RePlay pavement rejuvenator, a product made from 88 percent biobased materials. The division will serve Oregon, Washington, and California, three states with progressive environmental regulations and a growing demand for sustainable construction materials. According to Ken VanDomelen, president and CEO of Coast Pavement Services, the launch follows the company’s acquisition of Sandy, Oregon-based Pacific Earth, an excavation company that specializes in environmentally sensitive projects. Together, the acquisition and the new division strengthen Coast’s progressive focus on sustainable asphalt construction.
Coast Pavement Services began operations in 1969 as a sweeping service and has since grown into a full-service pavement company offering sealcoating, asphalt paving, cracksealing, striping, and stormwater management services. The company is notable for being the first pavement company in the world to join forces with 1% for Planet, an organization that encourages businesses to dedicate 1 percent of each sales dollar to environmental causes. The territory covered by RePlay West encompasses major metropolitan areas including Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. Each of these cities manages extensive networks of asphalt roadways and parking facilities that require regular preservation. Market drivers in this region include strict environmental regulations, growing demand for low-carbon materials, aging infrastructure requiring cost-effective preservation, and government procurement policies that increasingly favor environmentally preferable products.
Understanding RePlay: The Science Behind Biobased Pavement Rejuvenation
RePlay is a pavement rejuvenator formulated from 88 percent biobased materials, with soybean oil constituting a large portion of the formulation. The other key ingredient is derived from recycled polystyrene, giving the product a dual environmental benefit: it reduces dependence on petroleum-based inputs while diverting waste polystyrene from landfills. The product is designed for use on any asphalt surface and works by reversing the oxidation process that causes asphalt to become brittle and crack over time.
How Rejuvenation Works at the Pavement Level
As asphalt pavement ages, the binder oxidizes and loses flexibility, causing the pavement to become hard, brittle, and susceptible to cracking and structural failure. Traditional preservation methods such as sealcoating create a protective layer on the surface, while refined tar based pavement sealers what pavement professionals have historically relied on petroleum-derived formulations that carry environmental and health concerns.
RePlay takes a different approach by penetrating into the existing asphalt and restoring the binding agents from within. The product works within the top three-quarters inch to one and one-quarter inches of the pavement, effectively bringing oxidized material back to approximately 95 percent of its original condition. This restores flexibility and extends service life without milling, overlaying, or full-depth reconstruction.
Environmental and Performance Properties
The environmental credentials of RePlay are central to its value proposition. Unlike conventional rejuvenators and sealers containing petroleum distillates, RePlay is 100 percent petroleum-free. The following table compares key properties of RePlay against conventional petroleum-based products:
| Property | RePlay Biobased Rejuvenator | Conventional Petroleum Products |
|---|---|---|
| Biobased content | 88% (soybean oil based) | 0% (petroleum derived) |
| Petroleum content | 0% (petroleum-free) | 100% petroleum distillates |
| Odor during application | None | Strong petroleum odor |
| Carbon footprint | Carbon-negative | Carbon-positive |
| Heat island effect | Reduces thermal index | Increases heat absorption |
| Restriping required | Not required (clear) | Usually required |
| Cure time before traffic | Minutes | Hours to days |
| Safety (people, pets, foliage) | Safe once cured | Restricted access needed |
Because RePlay goes on clear, it reduces the thermal index and helps mitigate the urban heat island effect. Dark pavement absorbs and retains solar radiation, raising ambient temperatures in urban areas. By reflecting more heat, lighter pavement treated with RePlay can contribute to lower surface temperatures and reduced cooling demands in adjacent buildings. According to VanDomelen, using RePlay removes harmful greenhouse gases, giving it a carbon-negative footprint. The US Green Building Council determined that RePlay has a more favorable lifecycle environmental performance by almost 40 percent.
Economic and Infrastructure Benefits of Pavement Rejuvenation
The economic case for pavement rejuvenation is compelling for public agencies and private property owners managing large asphalt networks. VanDomelen summarized the challenge: the country has an infrastructure problem, and roads are deteriorating faster than tax dollars are generated to fix them. Traditional pavement management forces a reactive stance where budgets are consumed by emergency repairs rather than proactive preservation. Rejuvenation offers a solution by keeping good roads in good condition, enabling budgets to catch up.
The following table compares typical costs and outcomes for different pavement management approaches:
| Treatment Type | Relative Cost | Service Life Extension | Best Application Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rejuvenation (RePlay) | Low | 3 to 5 years | Good to fair condition |
| Cracksealing | Very low | 1 to 3 years | Before cracking is extensive |
| Sealcoating | Low to moderate | 2 to 4 years | Good condition |
| Thin overlay (1 to 2 inches) | Moderate to high | 7 to 12 years | Surface distress present |
| Mill and overlay | High | 10 to 15 years | Worn but structurally sound |
| Full-depth reconstruction | Very high | 15 to 25 years | Structurally failed pavement |
By applying rejuvenation at the right point in the pavement life cycle, agencies can defer expensive reconstruction projects and spread capital costs over a longer period. This aligns with the pavement preservation philosophy endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration and many state transportation departments. The carbon-negative certification from the US Green Building Council also supports LEED project credits and helps agencies report on the environmental impact of infrastructure investments.
Practical Application and Industry Implications
For contractors and pavement maintenance professionals considering RePlay, understanding proper application procedures is essential. The product’s unique formulation requires specific handling that differs from conventional sealcoating and rejuvenator products.
Application Process
The application process follows a systematic sequence to ensure the rejuvenator penetrates effectively and delivers expected performance benefits:
- Clean the pavement surface thoroughly using power washing or mechanical sweeping to remove dirt, debris, and vegetation.
- Allow the surface to dry completely before application, as trapped moisture prevents proper penetration and adhesion.
- Apply RePlay using standard spray equipment designed for pavement rejuvenators. Uniform coverage is essential for consistent results.
- Allow the material to cure. RePlay cures in minutes under normal conditions, so pavement can be opened to traffic almost immediately.
- Inspect for uniform coverage and address any missed areas with spot treatment.
No restriping is required after application because the material goes on clear and existing markings remain visible. This eliminates the cost and labor associated with restriping, which is typically needed after conventional dark sealcoating applications.
Selecting the Right Candidates for Rejuvenation
Not every asphalt pavement is suitable for rejuvenation. The treatment works best on pavement in good to fair condition, before extensive cracking or structural distress develops. Key evaluation criteria include:
- Surface condition rating: pavements rated 7 to 9 on a 10-point scale are ideal candidates
- Oxidation level: pavement that appears gray or faded will benefit most from rejuvenation
- Crack density: low to moderate crack density can be treated; extensive alligator cracking indicates structural failure
- Pavement age: 3 to 10 years is the optimal window, depending on mix design and traffic loading
- Traffic volume: best suited for low to medium traffic applications including parking lots, residential streets, and secondary roads
Market Trends and Contractor Opportunities
Several converging trends are accelerating adoption of biobased pavement rejuvenation technologies: regulatory pressure from bans on coal tar sealers and high-VOC petroleum products, corporate ESG commitments seeking sustainable construction materials, federal infrastructure investment incentives for sustainable materials, and growing public awareness of environmental and health impacts.
For contractors, offering biobased rejuvenation services represents a competitive differentiator. Early adopters who invest in training and equipment can position themselves as leaders in sustainable pavement management. Key steps include researching available products, investing in compatible application equipment, training crews on proper techniques, developing marketing materials that highlight environmental benefits, and building relationships with specification writers and public works departments. The formation of RePlay West demonstrates that established companies can successfully diversify into sustainable product distribution while continuing core operations. This trend, along with sweeping corp of america acquires usa services and strategic growth in the sector, points toward an industry increasingly focused on preservation-first approaches. As these technologies become standard practice, professionals who stay informed through channels such as maximizing value at pavement maintenance trade shows lessons will be best positioned to capitalize on the shift toward sustainable pavement management.