Recycled plastic void formers cut concrete use and carbon on Melbourne M80 project

An Australian-first use of Robovoid void formers is cutting concrete and steel on the M80 Ring Road Completion in Melbourne. The formers, made from 100% recycled plastic, replace solid concrete in retaining wall panels. On this project they cut concrete by 29%, steel reinforcement by 10%, and associated carbon emissions by 15%. The technology matters because concrete production accounts for an estimated 8 to 10% of global emissions. Finding ways to use less concrete while keeping structural performance is a direct decarbonization lever for infrastructure. The project also gives recycled plastic a second life in a large-scale build, with formers recovered and recycled after use. The M80 Ring Road Completion is part of the North East Link program, connecting the M80 Ring Road to the Eastern Freeway. The retaining wall work earned the project a platinum design rating of 88.7 and a nomination for an Infrastructure Sustainability Council award.