Recycled plastic void formers cut concrete and carbon in Victoria's M80 project

Victoria's M80 Ring Road Completion project is using Robovoid, a system of 3D conical plastic inserts that replace concrete in retaining wall panels. The void formers are made from recycled plastic and can be recycled at end of life. According to the state government, the panels use 29% less concrete and 10% less steel, cutting carbon emissions by 15%. The project is part of the corridor connecting to the North East Link tunnels. It also earned a platinum design rating of 88.7 from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council. Concrete production accounts for an estimated 8 to 10 percent of global emissions, so cutting cement use in large infrastructure jobs is a practical step, even if the percentage seems modest.