Green Construction of Expressways Based on the Whole Life Cycle ESG Concepts: A Case Study of the Construction of the Xingyi Ring Expressway

The concept of green highway construction has been a hot topic in the construction industry by integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into construction projects. This paper studies six most widely recognized international standards for sustainable highway construction, concludes ESG topics from different rating systems, and embeds the most frequently mentioned ESG indicators into an innovative ESG management system from strategy to implementation for the Guizhou Xingyi Ring Expressway (hereinafter the “Project”), which is praised as the “most beautiful karst peak forest highway in the world.” Known as the “most beautiful karst peak forest highway in the world,” this Project’s planning, design, construction, and operation stages were guided by a top-down ESG strategy supported by green technologies. This case study highlights the Project’s exemplary green construction practices, culminating in the 2023 Global Road Achievement Award for Environmental Protection from the International Road Federation.