Accounting for Embodied Carbon in Roadway Infrastructure

Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions generated during the extraction, production, transportation, placement, repair and disposal processes for all materials used to build and maintain roadways. Embodied carbon accounting is critical to identify key contributors to embodied carbon, evaluate the highest-impact, most cost-effective reduction opportunities, and track progress toward a net-zero carbon future. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the agreed-upon method for embodied carbon accounting. This document provides an overview of LCA in the context of roadway infrastructure.