Reducing the climate impacts of highways construction materials through exploring their physical and geotechnical properties and applications

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It is self-evident that it issustainable practice, both commercially and environmentally, for any civil engineering project to minimise the required quantities of materials and to export minimal waste, whilst still achieving their relevant development objectives. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Governmental Statististical Service (2021) state that 62% of total UK waste is generated from construction, demolition and excavation. Much-needed improvements to material resources and waste management can be achieved using principles associated with a circular economy (CE), a well-recognised concept which is underpinned by a transition to renewable energy and materials. Inspired by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (n.d.), the definition adopted by National Highways et al. (2016) is "an industrial economy that is restorative by design, and which aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times". In the same National Highways report it is recognised that by implementing CE opportunities significant reductions in cost, waste and carbon can be achieved. Hence developments in our ability to achieve CE principles contribute towards the National Highways goal of delivering net zero maintenance and construction by 2040.