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Modelling the Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Performance of Maximizing Asphalt Recycling on Road Pavement Surfaces in Europe

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Listed:
  • Gabriella Buttitta

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Gaspare Giancontieri

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Tony Parry

    (Atkins Ltd., The Hub, 500 Park Ave., Aztec W, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4RZ, UK)

  • Davide Lo Presti

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

The road pavement industry, worldwide, has often shown reluctance in quickly implementing innovative practices; however, in the case of raw material consumption, a cultural change is necessary and, in this sense, sustainability assessment could play a major role. Along these lines, this research study aims to provide evidence to all the involved stakeholders (material producers, pavement contractors, and road authorities) of how life cycle-based techniques can be crucial in evaluating whether the adoption of asphalt mixtures with high contents of reclaimed asphalt (RA) for wearing courses is actually a sustainable practice for major European roads. An evaluation framework composed of a life cycle assessment, to calculate the carbon footprint of both pavement materials and pavement activities, and a life cycle cost assessment, performed to determine the overall economic burden of the related road pavement surface courses and maintenance strategies over a sixty-year analysis period, is presented and applied to selected case studies. These were developed together with three major European national road authorities and include scenarios involving the construction of road surfaces with asphalt mixtures containing up to 90% RA. Results have shown that whenever high-content RA mixes do not under-perform against conventional mixtures, up to 50% CO 2 eq savings can be registered and up to 60% economic cost reductions can be reported. The durability of road pavement layers remains a key parameter for any road pavement sustainability assessment exercises; therefore, in order to adapt the obtained results to other contexts, researchers should always consider conducting a sensitivity analysis of the reference service life and/or road authorities should somehow request road pavement durability as a pre-requisite within procurement practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriella Buttitta & Gaspare Giancontieri & Tony Parry & Davide Lo Presti, 2023. "Modelling the Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Performance of Maximizing Asphalt Recycling on Road Pavement Surfaces in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-30, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14546-:d:1254859
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Filippo G. Praticò & Marinella Giunta & Marina Mistretta & Teresa Maria Gulotta, 2020. "Energy and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Pavement Materials and Technologies for Urban Roads," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Yunpeng Zhao & Dimitrios Goulias & Dominique Peterson, 2021. "Recycled Asphalt Pavement Materials in Transport Pavement Infrastructure: Sustainability Analysis & Metrics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Matthias Finkbeiner & Erwin M. Schau & Annekatrin Lehmann & Marzia Traverso, 2010. "Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(10), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Thenoux, Guillermo & González, Álvaro & Dowling, Rafael, 2007. "Energy consumption comparison for different asphalt pavements rehabilitation techniques used in Chile," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 325-339.
    5. Diana Eliza Godoi Bizarro & Zoran Steinmann & Isabel Nieuwenhuijse & Elisabeth Keijzer & Mara Hauck, 2021. "Potential Carbon Footprint Reduction for Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Innovations: LCA Methodology, Best Available Technology, and Near-Future Reduction Potential," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, January.
    6. Chiu, Chui-Te & Hsu, Tseng-Hsing & Yang, Wan-Fa, 2008. "Life cycle assessment on using recycled materials for rehabilitating asphalt pavements," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 545-556.
    7. Huang, Yue & Bird, Roger N. & Heidrich, Oliver, 2007. "A review of the use of recycled solid waste materials in asphalt pavements," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 58-73.
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