ECOLOGIQ’S GREENER INFRASTRUCTURE CONFERENCE RETURNS FOR 2023!

The Victorian Government’s ecologiQ program is leveraging the state’s significant infrastructure investment to boost the use of recycled and reused materials, make these products business-as-usual and build local markets.

ecologiQ’s three-day conference at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will bring together leaders in sustainability, infrastructure and research to plan pathways to a greener future and explore how to take it even further.

Industry Gets Ready For Another Successful Event

The event, held on 18-20 September, builds on the resounding success of last year’s inaugural conference, which was attended by almost 900 industry leaders across the infrastructure, government and sustainability sectors.

The trade hall was brimming with innovative suppliers and manufacturers of recycled products and led to some incredible success stories, including for OC Connections Enterprises – an Oakleigh-based social enterprise that employs people with disabilities and manufactures 100 per cent recycled traffic bollards.

The conference resulted in construction teams ordering more than 4000 bollards, while other suppliers of products made with recycled material – including recycled plastic railway sleepers and pavement made from discarded tyres – have also reported a boost in sales.

This year’s trade hall will be filled with even more makers of waste-to-resource products, who are a growing part of Victoria’s $31 billion manufacturing industry. The sector is in a prime position to supply the resources needed to deliver the Victorian Government’s transport infrastructure projects and beyond.

The Rise Of The Circular Economy

As Victoria transitions to a circular economy, these businesses will take on even greater importance and ecologiQ will connect them to a sustainable pipeline of demand, using the Recycled First Policy to drive action.

The Recycled First Policy requires constructors on Victorian Big Build projects to optimise their use of waste materials. It has resulted in almost three million tonnes of recycled materials being committed to transport projects – more than enough to fill the MCG.

The Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria plan underpins these efforts with funding to grow recycled material suppliers, with the transition to a circular economy anticipated to create 3900 new jobs and boost the economy by up to $6.7 billion.

Major Road Projects Victoria, Director of Program Services & Engineering, Alexis Davison, said, “I’m proud that Victoria’s biggest road and rail projects have been such a powerful force for positive change in driving a circular economy. Our continued ambition will ensure Victoria stays at the forefront of innovative use of recycled and reused materials.”

“The flow-on economic, environmental and social benefits of Victoria’s transition to a circular economy will be felt for decades to come.”

The economic, social and environmental impact of establishing a circular economy will be detailed during the conference, which will feature a range of keynote speakers, panel discussions and networking events.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about how greener materials are currently being integrated into transport infrastructure and how collaboration and innovation can take it to the next level.

To register, visit: bit.ly/ecologiq For more information, visit ecologiq.vic.gov.au.

Greener Infrastructure Conference 2023

18–20 September 2023

Registration is now open.

Victoria’s infrastructure industry is joining forces to create a greener future and deliver purposely greener projects. Be part of the change.

The three-day conference will feature industryleading speakers, expert panels, networking events and a trade hall that’s bigger and better than ever. Scan code