Roofing membrane with sustainable and renewable components

A bitumen roofing membrane that includes a bitumen compound layer, a fiber reinforcement layer, and granules;

• said fiber reinforcement layer is positioned on a top surface, on a bottom surface, and/or at least partially or fully inside the bitumen compound layer;
• said bitumen compound layer includes a primary hydrocarbon compound and one or more of a) filler;
• b) polymer modifier;
• c) hydrocarbon resin or process oil;
• d) ground tire rubber;
• e) tackifying agent;
• f) antioxidant;
• g) UV stabilizer;
• h) cross-linkers;
• i) biocide;
• j) coloring agent;
• k) metal flakes;
• l) adhesion enhancer;
• m) fire retardant;
• n) softening agent;
• o) wax;
• p) acid;
• and q) reinforcement fibers;
• and wherein I) said polymer modifier, said filler, and/or said fiber reinforcement includes 10-100 wt. % recycled material, and/or II) said fiber reinforcement layer includes 10-100 wt. % recycled material;
• said granules forming at least a portion of a top surface of said bitumen roofing membrane;
• said granules are at least partially formed of a material that a) absorbs and/or binds carbon dioxide, b) absorbs and/or binds NOx, and/or c) results in a top surface of said bitumen roofing membrane having a reflectivity of 13-60% (per ASTM C1549);
• said bitumen compound layer comprises by weight percent:
• Primary hydrocarbon compound
• 40-60
• wt. %
• Filler
• 5-25
• wt. %
• Polymer Modifier
• 8-20
• wt. %
• Hydrocarbon Resin or Process Oil
• 0-10
• wt. %
• Ground Tire Rubber
• 0-25
• wt. %
• Antioxidant
• 0-1
• wt. %
• UV Stabilizer
• 0-1
• wt. %
• Cross-Linker
• 0-20
• wt. %
• Biocide
• 0-1
• wt. %
• Wax
• 0-3
• wt. %
• Coloring Agent
• 0-10
• wt. %
• Metal Flakes
• 0-10
• wt. %
• Adhesion Enhancer
• 0-10
• wt. %
• Fire Retardant
• 1-15
• wt. %
• Fiber reinforcement
• 0-10
• wt. %
• Tackifying Agent
• 0-10
• wt. %
• Softening Agent
• 0-10
• wt. %
• Wax
• 0-5
• wt. %
• Acid
• 0-5
• wt. %;
• and wherein said Ground Tire Rubber has a size of no greater than 100 mesh (149 microns) average size.