In a rapidly changing world, public infrastructure must be resilient, future-ready, and environmentally responsible. With governments committing to bold climate goals, such as reducing upfront carbon in infrastructure by 23% by 2027, the pressure is on to adopt low-carbon, circular alternatives without compromising performance. Embedding circular economy principles into civil works is no longer optional; it’s essential. Yet the uptake of recycled materials in high-performance applications remains slow. A key barrier is not only supply or capability, but confidence.
This session explores how we can shift the narrative by leveraging the power of data, tools, and trusted partnerships. We’ll showcase how Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), whole-of-life impact models, and transparent quality frameworks can validate the performance of recycled materials. We will highlight a collaboration with Transport for NSW that demonstrates how public sector leadership and robust specifications are unlocking circular innovation in practice. Similarly, step through a collaboration with Holcim that is proving the feasibility of recovering aggregates from end-of-life concrete and reintroducing them into new concrete, showing circularity is possible in technically demanding applications.
By aligning tools, policy, and evidence, we can create a system that empowers engineers and asset owners to make sustainable choices with confidence. When asset owners consider the full asset lifecycle and make deliberate decisions about their waste, they help close the loop, enabling businesses like ours to turn waste into high-quality, traceable products for infrastructure.
Attendees will gain practical insights into embedding circular practices in infrastructure and how collaboration can overcome traditional barriers to sustainable progress. In shaping tomorrow’s world, we must be bold in redefining what is possible, and this starts with proving that recycled materials can meet the mark!