Perth Airport’s Low Carbon Runway Pavement
Overview:
Perth Airport's new runway represents a breakthrough in sustainable aviation infrastructure. The Low Carbon Runway Pavement estimates an 18% reduction in total lifecycle emissions over 100 years, proving that high-performance aviation infrastructure and environmental responsibility are mutually achievable. The innovation replaces traditional cement-treated crushed rock (CTCR) with a Foamed Bitumen Stabilised Base (FBB) system. The proposed runway pavement is a distinctive and transformative initiative in the aviation industry and establishes a replicable model for runway pavement design across Australia. By demonstrating that sustainable design delivers measurable environmental and performance benefits at scale, this project is the exemplification for industry adoption of low-carbon materials in major infrastructure and sets a new benchmark for the aviation sector's transition toward sustainable infrastructure delivery.
Challenge & Approach:
Aviation runways require highly durable pavement that can withstand constant aircraft traffic. Traditionally, this has meant using materials such as CTCR, which provides high stiffness and bearing strength but has a high embodied carbon footprint. Aurecon’s project team explored innovative design initiatives that maintain strict performance and safety requirements while minimising whole-of-life carbon emissions and responding to increasing sustainability expectations.
The team developed a design solution that replaced the conventional CTCR base materials with a Foamed Bitumen Stabilised Base system which was assessed for whole of life impacts including maintenance emissions. The assessment found that the reduced maintenance and renewal requirements of the FBB pavement decreased the demand for virgin materials over the asset lifecycle.
The team used experience from prior trials of the proposed FBB system at Perth Airport's Terminal 2 Aprons to de-risk the full-scale initiative implementation.
Sustainability Performance:
The alternative pavement design incorporates a foamed bitumen base, which has a lower stiffness than the CTCR business as usual option, while delivering equivalent performance outcomes. Importantly, it achieves a substantial reduction in carbon emissions during both construction and across the runway's operational life. The use of foamed bitumen technology reduces maintenance intervals and material removed during maintenance returns into the supply chain as Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement, demonstrating a true circular economy. The new design estimates the following environmental gains:
- Upfront Emissions: 33% reduction in embodied carbon
- Lifecycle Emissions: 18% reduction in total lifecycle emissions over 100 years compared to a conventional runway pavement
The design achieves a balance between performance and reduced embodied carbon, while adopting a whole-of-life approach to enhance long-term sustainability outcomes. The FBB pavement is expected to require less frequent maintenance, which further supports emission reductions by decreasing the cumulative emissions associated with maintenance activities throughout the runway's operational life.
Impact & Legacy:
Perth Airport's Low Carbon Runway demonstrates that sustainability and performance aren't mutually exclusive. By proving these materials work at scale, the project sets a new standard for runway design across Australia and supports the aviation industry's shift toward more sustainable practices. The innovation provides a cost-effective and scalable alternative to traditional pavement design, reducing both the initial and long-term environmental footprint. It sets a new benchmark for runway pavement design in Australia and accelerates adoption of low-carbon materials in infrastructure, supporting broader industry transition toward sustainable design practices. The project creates significant potential for replication across airports and heavy-duty pavements nationally, with opportunities to further enhance performance through additional material innovations. By demonstrating that high-performance aviation infrastructure can be delivered with significantly lower carbon impact, Perth Airport's Low Carbon Runway establishes a model for the aviation sector's transition toward sustainable infrastructure delivery that can be duplicated.