Is it worth it? Potential for Reducing the Environmental Impact of Bitumen Roofing Membrane Production

Bituminous roofing membranes are widely used construction materials for waterproofing applications and, due to their origin from crude oil, offer substantial sustainability potential in recycling contexts. Based on environmental indicators defined in current standards - the established standard for environmental product declarations - this study compiles a comprehensive overview from existing publications and investigates internal correlations as well as the influence of reinforcement layers. Classical statistical tools such as means, confidence intervals, and t-tests are primarily employed. In addition to linear approaches, a multiple regression model is introduced, enabling the prediction of environmental impact categories based on the input masses of bitumen and limestone filler. Except for four categories, statistically significant predictions are consistently demonstrated, with notably higher predictive performance for ADPE, EP-marine, GWP-fossil, and POCP compared to individual models. This ability to forecast environmental impacts in membrane production provides a robust basis for the planning and development of more environmentally friendly processes - an essential step toward a more sustainable, waterproof future.