Sustainability and cost efficiency in asphalt production: a comparison of Mixing Technologies and the case study in Sardinia (Italy)

The paper performs a comparative assessment of the industrial costs associated with the production of Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), Warm Mix Asphalt enriched with Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) material, and Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). The objective is to identify the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solutions for road infrastructure. The operational and investment costs associated with each asphalt mixing technology were examined, paying particular attention to environmental aspects and the need to reduce costs through efficiency and innovations in production processes. The case study of Sardinia, an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, provides a unique perspective for analyzing the influence of local variables such as material availability and climatic conditions on production decisions. This choice allowed the effectiveness of asphalt mixing technologies to be evaluated under well-defined boundary conditions, highlighting how WMA and WMA with RAP material can offer significant advantages in terms of lower emissions and reduced costs, especially when recycled material is widely available. The results underscore the importance of adopting innovative and environmentally friendly production practices, demonstrating how improvements in emissions can contribute significantly to lowering costs in the road construction sector. This study aims to provide crucial insights for decision makers, promoting the adoption of more sustainable and cost-effective asphalt production methodologies, with a specific focus on island contexts such as Sardinia.