Boateng, R. K.; Booth, C. A.; Horry, R. E.; Wiejak-Roy, G. A.; Agyekum, K.; Al-Tarazi, D.; Joseph, R.; Manu, P. and Prabhakaran, A. (2025) Implementing environmental management systems (ISO 14001) in the construction sector of Ghana. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law, 178(4), pp. 244-254. ISSN 1751-4304
Abstract
Environmental management systems (EMS) enable organisations to manage their environmental impacts. Globalisation has resulted in more organisations needing to engage in environmental sustainability. In developed nations, ISO 14001 provides the key guidance, but in developing nations, sustainability remains a new concept. This study investigates EMS implementation within the Ghanaian construction sector which has low EMS adoption. A critical literature review identified 11 benefits, 11 barriers and 10 strategies for implementing EMS in the construction sector. The views of construction professionals in Ghana were sought regarding the benefits, barriers and strategies. Of 150 questionnaires distributed, 60 were returned and 52 were deemed usable. Data was analysed using the voting analytic hierarchy process (Manu et al., 2019). The results showed that "cost savings due to the reduction of fines associated with convictions" was the main perceived benefit of implementing EMS, while the major barrier was "a lack of government legal enforcement". The most significant implementation strategy was suggested to be "the implementation of a legal requirement for environmental protection for EMS". It is concluded that lack of legal requirements may impede ISO 14001 engagement. The recommendation is that environmental regulations and policies are created to encourage the adoption of EMS.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | benefits; construction sector; environment; environmental management systems; Ghana; ISO 14001 |
| Index terms: | Ghana, globalization, ISO, environmental management system, environmental protection, literature review, strategy, environmental regulation, construction professional, enforcement, developing nation, cost saving, construction sector, questionnaire, environmental sustainability, environmental impact, implementation |
| Subjects: | data analysis and analytics, standards development, data collection methods, economic factors, development economics, control systems, environmental engineering, industry analysis, management, Geography, contractual arrangements, environmental impact, professional development, health safety and environment, economics |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Quality Management, International Construction, Geographical Context, Information Management, Health and Safety, Cost Management, Sustainability, Procurement, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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