Green Public Procurement 
               
              Road Construction and Traffic 
              Signs Background Report 
               
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
              Report for the European Commission – DG Environment by 
              AEA, Harwell, June 2010 
               
              Owner, Editor: European Commission, DG Environment-G2, B-
              1049, Brussels. 
               
              Disclaimer: The European Commission accepts no responsibility or 
              liability whatsoever with regard to the information presented in this 
              document. 
                                    Green Public Procurement – Road Construction and Traffic Signs Technical Background Report 
                   
                  Table of contents
                  1      Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 
                  2      Abbreviations ................................................................................................... 2 
                  3      Definition, Scope and Background ................................................................. 3 
                         3.1     Road construction .............................................................................................................. 3 
                         3.2     Traffic Signs ....................................................................................................................... 7 
                  4      Key Environmental Impacts ............................................................................ 8 
                         4.1     Life-Cycle Phases of Roads and Traffic Signs .................................................................. 8 
                         4.2     Resource Use .................................................................................................................. 12 
                         4.3     Emissions ......................................................................................................................... 14 
                         4.4     Noise ................................................................................................................................ 15 
                         4.5     Visual Impact ................................................................................................................... 15 
                         4.6     Waste Management and Recycling ................................................................................. 15 
                  5      Cost Considerations ...................................................................................... 18 
                  6      Relevant EU Legislation and Policy ............................................................. 19 
                         6.1     The Construction Products Directive (CPD) 89/106/EEC ............................................... 19 
                         6.2     The REACH Regulation 1907/2006 ................................................................................. 21 
                         6.3     The Hazardous Waste Directive (HWD) 91/689/EC ........................................................ 21 
                         6.4     Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC ........................................................................ 22 
                         6.5     The European Waste Catalogue (EWC) ......................................................................... 22 
                         6.6     The Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC ................................................................................... 22 
                         6.7     The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC) 2008/1/EC ............... 22 
                         6.8     The Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC ...................................................... 23 
                         6.9     The Chromium (VI) Directive 2003/53/EC ....................................................................... 23 
                         6.10    Directive 2006/38/EC, amending Directive 1999/62/EC, on the Charging of Heavy Goods 
                         Vehicles for the Use of Certain Infrastructures ........................................................................... 23 
                         6.11    The  Classification,  Packaging  and  Labelling  of  Dangerous  Substances  Directive 
                         67/548/EEC is it relevant? ........................................................................................................... 24 
                         6.12    The CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 ........................................................................ 24 
                         6.13    The EU Climate-energy Package .................................................................................... 24 
                         6.14    UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) ................. 25 
                         6.15    Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 85/337/EEC .............................................. 25 
                         6.16    Future Legislation and Standards .................................................................................... 26 
                         6.17    Examples of Member State Policy ................................................................................... 26 
                  7      Existing Standards & Ecolabels Relevant to Road Construction .............. 27 
                         7.1     Ecolabels for Road Construction ..................................................................................... 27 
                         7.2     Ecolabels for Traffic Signs ............................................................................................... 31 
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                  Green Public Procurement – Road Construction and Traffic Signs Technical Background Report 
                   
                         7.3     Ecolabels for Products Related to Road Construction .................................................... 32 
                  8      Conclusions and Summary ........................................................................... 35 
                  9      Proposal for Core and Comprehensive Procurement Criteria ................... 36 
                  10     EU legislation and information sources ....................................................... 38 
                         10.1    EU Legislation .................................................................................................................. 38 
                         10.2    Ecolabels and Standards ................................................................................................. 39 
                         10.3    Studies and Other Sources of Information ...................................................................... 39 
                   
                  Appendices 
                         Appendix 1         Crushed Concrete Construction 
                         Appendix 2         European Standards Relevant to Road Surfacing Materials and Traffic Signs 
                                             
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
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