The uptake of recycled materials in New Zealand’s pavements is currently low. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency wishes to increase the use of recycled materials in pavements to contribute to a circular economy. However, given that transport distances and processing requirements for some recycled materials can be significant, Waka Kotahi wants to identify materials that are circular and have a low carbon footprint. The purpose of this project was to develop a calculator tool to compare the environmental performance of different pavement designs at the project level, considering both virgin and recycled materials. An Excel based tool was developed through this project and named the Pavement Environmental Calculator. This tool considers the full life cycle of the pavement, including initial construction, maintenance and end of life. It applies to all layers of the pavement but excludes supporting infrastructure. The calculator tool includes a combination of primary data collected from industry through this project and secondary data from literature. In addition to the tool itself, this report proposes some initial rules of thumb for environmentally conscious pavement design. These rules of thumb need refinement by applying the Pavement Environmental Calculator to more projects. It is hoped that a user group will develop over time to share findings and knowledge that help to improve the environmental performance of New Zealand’s pavements. The report is available from the New Zealand Transport Agency web site at https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/research/reports/695/695-life-cycle-assessment-of-pavements-development-of-a-calculator.pdf
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