LCE4ROADS · Life Cycle Engineering approach to develop a novel EU-harmonized sustainability certification system for cost-effective, safer and greener road infrastructures

The EU Ecolabel identifies products and services that contribute to sustainability because they have demonstrated a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle. There are already more than 17,000 EU Ecolabelled products on the market, but there are no references for road products and infrastructuresThe concept of the LCE4ROADS project arises from the necessity of a new, green, holistic and EU-harmonised certification systems integrating by a Life Cycle Engineering (LCE) approach: environmental indicators along with the economic, technical and social aspects, for the assessment of future and existing road infrastructures, as well as their construction materials such as asphalt mixtures and cement-based materials.This methodology, together with a guide for road certification and a multi-criteria software tool to be developed, will define criteria and provide recommendations, supporting and motivating relevant stakeholders and industry in order to include greener, more cost-effective and safer technologies in their road construction, maintenance and renewal projects.In order to achieve the expected results a complete work plan has been performed. This plan that will move from the definition of the new certification/rating methodology considering existing relevant labelling approaches, plus the analysis of road products, to the development of guidelines and of a software tool that thanks to the direct involvement of CEN in the project, will motivate future EU-harmonized certification approaches for roads that would grant the implementation of the LCE4ROADS results.The LCE4ROADS project will contribute to the implementation of European policies and strategies, boosting the integration of transport in sustainable development promoting technologies and materials that reduce pollutant emissions and the use of natural and financial resources.