Life Cycle Assessment of Polymer -and Rubber- Modified Bitumen and Bituminous Emulsions for Sustainable Road Infrastructure

Main Presenter:    Patricia Lameda Febles 

Co-Authors:                                                  

This study shows the environmental performance of three road construction materials: polymer-modified bitumen (PMB), crumb-rubber modified bitumen (CRMB), and bituminous emulsions, manufactured by MOEVE in Spain and Portugal. The analysis covers modules A1–A3 (raw material supply, transport, and manufacturing) for all products, and additionally C1–C4 and D for crumb-rubber modified bitumen, using updated databases (Sphera’s MLC 2025.1, Ecoinvent 3.11) and impact assessment methods aligned with Environmental Footprint 3.1 and IPCC 2021.
Results confirm that raw material supply (A1) dominates impacts across all products. For PMB, Global Warming Potential (GWP) ranges 699–828 kg CO₂ eq/t, driven by polymer content (SBS) and bitumen. CRMB shows slightly lower GWP values, 573–615 kg CO₂ eq/t, benefiting from recycled rubber use, though still heavily influenced by bitumen. Emulsions exhibit the lowest GWP, 395–454 kg CO₂ eq/t, due to reduced bitumen content and water-based formulation. Water depletion varies from 1.8 m³/t (PMB) to 36–61 m³ eq/t (CRMB) and 78–136 m³ eq/t (emulsions). Acidification and eutrophication impacts follow similar trends, with PMB generally highest. Sensitivity analysis highlights that improving bitumen sourcing and reducing fossil fuel use during manufacturing are critical for decarbonization.
Based on these LCA results, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for each product family will be available in Q1 2026 in compliance with EN 15804:2012+A2:2020, supporting transparency and harmonization in sustainability reporting. These findings guide strategies for material optimization and energy efficiency, contributing to sustainable pavement design aligned with European climate goals.

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