David Shercliff & Dr. Kasia Zamara will discuss achievements in the world of Geosynthetics. In November 2023 the IGS celebrated its 40th anniversary with a series of lectures focusing on various achievements in the world of geosynthetics over the past 40 years. One of those lectures focused on the contribution geosynthetics have made to optimizing the use of valuable ground engineering resources with a special focus on the impact on the environment. This lecture is a reprise of that lecture at a time more convenient and with particular reference to the Australian and New Zealand markets. David, who joined the geosynthetics industry 40 years ago takes a retrospective look at the growing awareness of civil engineers on the impact that construction makes on the environment and the some of the many contributions IGS members have made.to quite literally “saving the earth”. Whilst it is good to celebrate it is important to be real about our current situation and to realize how much more work is needed.to be done. Kasia will give us a perspective, from the next generation of geosynthetic engineers, on what is happening now, globally and in the IGS. She will describe the activities and influence of the IGS Sustainability Committee on the industry encouraging the use of environmental impact statements, EPDs, carbon calculators, innovations and to help us all to communicate the increasingly massive contribution geosynthetics makes in saving the earth.