Alstom

Partnership Highlights

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Shamila Gopalan (SisterWorks Chief Commercial Officer), Viviane Hennequin (Alstom Social Procurement Lead), Carina Watson (Yarra Riverkeeper Association Operations Manager), and Ifrin Fittock (SisterWorks CEO).

Circular Economy Innovation with Alstom and the Department of Transport and Planning

SisterWorks is proud to partner with Alstom and the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) through our CircularWorks initiative, a collaboration that demonstrates how sustainability and social impact can go hand in hand. Together, we are transforming industrial waste into valuable, functional products while creating meaningful employment and skills development opportunities for women from migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker backgrounds.

Marine-grade transport tarps were identified as a significant waste stream in Alstom’s operations, with an estimated two tonnes going to landfill each year. Durable and difficult to recycle, these tarps presented both an environmental challenge and an opportunity to test innovative circular economy solutions.

Through CircularWorks, SisterWorks worked closely with Alstom and DTP to design, prototype, and produce durable products from surplus tarp waste. SisterWorks managed the end-to-end logistics, from safe collection at Alstom’s Dandenong facility to material traceability, design, and production at the SisterWorks Manufacturing Hub.

Key Partnership Achievements

Repurposed 60 kg (326 sqm) of marine-grade tarp, preventing it from entering landfill.
Manufactured 75 co-branded garden and waste bags, distributed to community organisations, including Yarra Riverkeeper and Reground.
Designed, prototyped, and delivered 10 unique product concepts (20 prototypes) with proven potential for future scale.
Produced co-branded event bags from marine-grade tarp for Alstom partners, extending visibility of the initiative.
Created paid employment and upskilling opportunities for women at the SisterWorks Manufacturing Hub, preparing them for pathways into advanced manufacturing.

“This circular economy initiative, delivered in partnership with the Department of Transport and Planning and SisterWorks, is a strong reflection of Alstom’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility. By reducing waste, supporting diverse and local suppliers, and creating inclusive employment pathways, we’re turning our sustainability and social procurement goals into tangible, lasting impact—for both the environment and the communities we serve.”
— Viviane Hennequin, Social Procurement Lead, Alstom

This pilot demonstrates the value of embedding circular economy principles into industrial supply chains. By repurposing a challenging waste stream, Alstom and SisterWorks have reduced landfill, modelled a scalable solution for the two tonnes of tarp waste generated annually, and created opportunities that empower women to build skills, confidence, and economic independence.

“Partnering with Alstom, SisterWorks turned two tonnes of marine-grade tarps into durable products and paid, skills-based jobs for migrant and refugee women, diverting landfill, cutting CO₂ emissions and boosting local content. This is social procurement in action: practical, scalable and strengthening rail-ready supply chains. Alstom is setting the standard for the transport industry.”
— Shamila Gopalan, Chief Commercial Officer, SisterWorks

The Alstom–SisterWorks relationship began in 2023 and continues to grow through a shared commitment to sustainability and inclusive innovation. From joint projects to event collaboration, Alstom has shown ongoing support for SisterWorks’ mission. Together, the partnership has proven that industrial challenges can be reimagined into opportunities for innovation, empowerment, and measurable community impact, setting a strong precedent for circular economy solutions across the transport sector.

We’re ready to collaborate.

If your business is exploring corporate social responsibility, circular economy solutions, or community engagement, SisterWorks wants to hear from you.