This study examines the correlation between the embodied carbon of asphalt mixes, as determined by Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of flexible pavement designs. The research aims to provide comprehensive scenarios that compare lower embodied carbon mixes, lower life cycle GHG emissions of flexible pavement designs, and performance affected by climate change. This information is intended to help decision-makers and pavement engineers make informed choices.
Two asphalt mixes were studied: a commonly used mix and an enhanced mix containing styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS). These mixes were analyzed with different climate exposures in two Canadian provinces. The pavement performance was assessed considering historical climate data and two future climate change scenarios. This approach allowed the life cycle assessment to include various maintenance strategies and their impact on GHG emissions. The embodied carbon data was sourced from EPDs, while life cycle GHG emissions were calculated using PaveLCA. The study clearly demonstrated that a mix with higher embodied carbon can result in lower life cycle GHG emissions due to a longer service life. Additionally, it highlights the importance of considering climate resilience, as projected temperature increases in Canada could reduce service life or necessitate more frequent maintenance if climate change is not factored into pavement design. In such cases, life cycle GHG emissions would be higher.