Kwofie, T E; Aigbavboa, C O and Thwala, W D (2020) Measures to improve the adoption of life cycle assessment in the South African construction industry. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 18(2), pp. 480-494. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: In spite of the urge among stakeholders to increase sustainability in the built environment, the South African Construction Industry (SACI) continues to suffer from low level of adoption of strategies such as life cycle assessment (LCA) to increase sustainable building practices in building and infrastructure delivery, hence the need to increase the adoption of sustainable concepts and sustainability practices is an emergent necessity. This study aims to identify the measures that can increase the adoption of LCA toward overcoming the practical difficulties, theoretical concerns and structural differences encountered in making gains in achieving sustainable practices in the SA construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a deductive research design using a questionnaire survey with mean scores, Kruskal–Wallis and least square regression analysis done. Findings: The study determined ten measures that can significantly influence about 88 per cent improvement in the success of LCA adopting in the SA industry. Also, there was a higher level of consensus in the findings which offers credence and good representation of the practical reality in the LCA adoption in South Africa. Originality/value: These measures could be seen to embrace behavioural, social, technical and policy dimensions of LCA adoption. The findings are thus crucial in overcoming challenges to LCA methodologies in achieving sustainable building practices in the construction process in building and infrastructural delivery in SACI.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; life cycle assessment; sustainable practices |
| Index terms: | survey, infrastructure delivery, life cycle assessment, strategy, South Africa, questionnaire, methodology, sustainable building practice, construction process, research design, sustainable practice, low level, regression analysis, construction industry, dimension, built environment |
| Subjects: | Geography, management, research methods, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, statistical analysis, sustainable practices, building construction, measurement and scaling, environmental impact, data collection methods, research design and methodology, strategic project management, health monitoring assessment and metrics, sustainability and energy |
| Topics: | Site Management, Urban Studies, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Project Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here