Recycled materials hold the key to more eco-friendly asphalt production
Pavements are traditionally constructed using hot-mix asphalt, a mix of bitumen and virgin aggregates produced at high temperatures. This requires large amounts of natural resources and energy and releases a large quantity of waste. However, technologies exist to create warm-mix asphalt -- a substance produced, transported and compacted at lower temperatures than traditional hot-mix asphalts, resulting in a lower environmental impact and carbon footprint. This study explores the 'eco-profiles' of asphalt technologies used to construct urban pavements, assessing various scenarios based on their environmental impact and energy requirements across the entire pavement life cycle.
Recycled materials hold the key to more eco-friendly asphalt production (351 Kb)