The Way of the Future – CIES innovative research is trialled by TfNSW

Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) have recently produced videos about their collaborative project with CIES and other partners on trialling innovative geopolymer concretes using waste glass, an area of CIES expertise led and championed by Associate Professor Ailar Hajimohammadi.

“This project involves multiple stakeholders across different industries, including UNSW, John Holland, CPB, Boral, and TfNSW, who have come together to trial this new approach to concrete production,” explains A/Prof Hajimohammadi. “This cross-industry collaboration represents a new and improved practice in the construction industry, emphasizing the importance of working together to achieve sustainable outcomes.”

Concrete is one of the most widely used material in the world, second only to water. Traditionally, Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is used as the primary binder in concrete production. However, producing concrete in this way requires a substantial amount of energy and high temperatures, resulting in significant amounts of CO₂ emissions.

As an alternative to traditional concrete this innovative geopolymer concrete has up to 80 per cent lower embodied emissions and a potential longer lifespan.

Currently the trial is occurring within the Rozelle Interchange and Western Harbour Tunnel projects and could pave the way for further trials across Transport projects.  

The trial aims to benefit the community by promoting sustainable concrete solutions, embedding a circular economy solution, and providing publicly available intellectual property.

The geopolymer concrete trial is funded by the EPA Waste Less Recycle More initiative with CIES and John Holland as grant partners.   CIES Chief Investigators on the project are Associate Professor Hajimohammadi, Professor Stephen Foster and Dr Taehwan Kim.

Associate Professor Hajimohammadi has been invited to present as a keynote speaker about the use of waste glass in construction in Recycling and Waste Management Summit in Hong Kong in November.

TfNSW Video One: About the geopolymer concrete – innovative, waste-reducing and sustainable. 

TfNSW Video Two: About the TfNSW partnership with Boral, CPB, EPA, John Holland, & UNSW CIES.