Sustainability of Asphalt Pavements: The role of life cycle assessment (LCA) and emerging technologies

Abstract

Asphalt pavements contribute significantly to the construction sector’s environmental footprint, particularly through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy use, and material extraction. This review critically evaluates the role of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in quantifying and mitigating these impacts, with attention to how system boundaries, Product Category Rules (PCRs), and background datasets influence reported outcomes. Drawing on over 500 peer-reviewed studies, the manuscript synthesizes evidence on material and process-level strategies, such as warm-mix asphalt (WMA), high-reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content, cold in-place recycling, bio-based binders, and waste derived additives, that demonstrate measurable reductions in life cycle indicators across different scope boundaries.

This study highlights the emerging potential of digital technologies. Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensors can generate project specific inventory data, while Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables automated data cleaning, quality control, and predictive scenario modeling. Together, these tools support the development of dynamic, high-resolution environmental profiles that improve transparency and comparability. Policy developments across the United States, European Union, and other regions illustrate how EPDs are becoming embedded in public procurement practices, with growing alignment around EN and ISO standards enhancing consistency and cross-border comparability. Despite recent advancements, several key challenges still remain unresolved, including fragmented PCR frameworks, limited high quality datasets for emerging materials, and uncertainty in modeling long-term pavement performance. To address these, this review proposes a roadmap focused on standardized impact reporting, direct measurement of material and energy flows, and verifiable digital workflows. Overall, the findings support a shift from static environmental documentation to actionable, performance-based tools that promote cleaner asphalt materials and sustainable infrastructure development.