Robovoid – M80 Ring Road

Case study

Project name: M80 Ring Road Completion (M80RRC)
Date: November 2025
Contact: Ross Brookshaw, M80RRC

The M80 Ring Road Completion will connect the M80 to the North East Link tunnels, delivering a fully integrated corridor. Works include major interchange upgrades, new shared user paths, and landscaped bridges designed to improve connectivity, safety and urban amenity.

Recycled First opportunities were explored in accordance with project carbon reduction and circularity requirements. This led to the Project’s Australian-first installation of Robovoid in Westkon precast retaining walls.

Robovoid’s void formers are 3D geometric shapes that are placed within concrete structures to reduce concrete mass as well as steel rebar reinforcement and the corresponding carbon emissions. The inserts are made from 100% Australian plastic waste, contributing to the circular economy.

Carbon emissions generated through traditional concrete construction methods, as well as increasing amounts of plastic waste ending up in landfill, are issues plaguing the construction industry. Robovoid developed its void formers in response to these two issues. Concrete construction generates approximately 8% to 10% of global carbon emissions.

As an industry, construction is the third largest emitter, triple that of aviation. In addition, plastic waste is a major problem globally and in Australia. In Australia only 13% of plastic waste is recycled.

The results

By implementing Robovoid, the M80 Ring Road Completion reduced the amount of concrete used in the relevant precast panels by 29%, and decreased the quantity of steel reinforcement by 10%.

This application reduced the emissions of the retaining walls by 15%, or 6,681kg CO2e.

Additionally, Robovoid components can be removed and recycled at the end of the element’s life cycle, ensuring minimal waste and promoting reuse in future projects.

The lessons

This application is an Australian-first installation of Robovoid in precast retaining walls. The design incorporating this 100% recycled plastic void former not only helps divert waste plastics from landfill but also reduces the Project’s carbon footprint by using less concrete and steel.

Early engagement with all stakeholders was essential for this initiative to be successful, taking nearly two years for approval and installation. After the successful implementation by the M80 Ring Road Completion project, it is expected that the approval process and time should be dramatically reduced for future projects and applications.

Well before the panels were due to be delivered, concrete manufacturer Westkon conducted trials to optimise concrete mix and efficiency.

Wider implementation across future applications will be critical to optimise processes, improve effectiveness, and support a competitive outcome.

Contact us

For more information about the Recycled First Policy or the ecologiQ program, contact us at ecologiQ@vida.vic.gov.au