Wang, Z; Zhou, Y; Wang, T and Zhao, N (2025) Efficiency of construction waste and carbon reduction in the construction industry: Based on improved three stage sbm-DEA model in China. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 32(8), pp. 5328-5349. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose – Reducing construction waste generation and carbon emission in the construction industry is crucial for the "dual carbon" goal. Evaluating the efficiency of reducing construction waste generation and carbon emission in the construction industry at the regional level is an important evaluation basis for the sustainable development of the construction industry. It provides a basis for formulating construction waste and carbon reduction policies tailored to local conditions and comprehensively promote the sustainable development of the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach – A three stage SBM-DEA model based on non-expected outputs is proposed by combining the SBM-DEA model with the SFA method. The proposed model is used to evaluate the efficiency of construction waste and carbon reduction in the construction industry in 30 regions of China from 2010 to 2020. Moreover, the study explores the impact of environmental variables such as urbanization level, proportion of construction industry employees, resident consumption level, and technological progress. Findings – From 2010 to 2020, the efficiency of construction waste and carbon reduction in China's construction industry has been increasing year by year. Provinces with higher efficiency of construction waste and carbon reduction in the construction industry are mainly concentrated in the eastern coastal areas, showing an overall pattern of "East>West>Northeast>Middle". There is a clear correlation between the level of urbanization, the proportion of construction industry employees, residents' consumption level, technological progress, labor input, machinery input, and capital investment. The construction waste and carbon emission efficiency of the construction industry in various provinces is greatly influenced by environmental factors. Practical implications – The research results provide policy makers and business managers with effective policies for reducing construction waste generation and carbon emission in the construction industry, especially circular economy policies. To provide empirical support for further understanding the connotation of construction waste and carbon reduction in the construction industry, to create innovative models for construction waste and carbon reduction, and to promote the multiple benefits of construction waste and carbon reduction in the construction industry, and to provide empirical support for countries and enterprises with similar development backgrounds in China to formulate relevant policies and decision-making. Originality/value – The construction industry is a high investment, high energy consumption, and high pollution industry. This study uses the three stage SBM-DEA model to explore the efficiency of construction waste and carbon reduction in the construction industry, providing a new perspective for the evaluation of sustainable development in the construction industry, enriching and improving the theory of sustainable development.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | carbon emission; construction industry; construction waste; efficiency; three stage sbm-DEA model |
| Index terms: | pollution, carbon reduction, carbon emission, efficiency, urbanization, circular economy, energy consumption, construction waste, construction industry, capital investment, manager, sustainable development, coastal areas, methodology, decision-making, China, environmental factor, consumption |
| Subjects: | energy systems, decision analysis, environmental health, industry analysis, performance management, urban planning, economic analysis, environmental science, practitioner, climate science, consumer economics, waste management, research methods, physical geography and landforms, sustainable design, Geography, health safety and environment |
| Topics: | Governance, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Quality Management, Sustainability, Risk Management, Geographical Context, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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