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Sustainability policy of construction contractors: A review

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  • Zuo, Jian
  • Zillante, George
  • Wilson, Lou
  • Davidson, Kathryn
  • Pullen, Stephen

Abstract

Sustainability is an issue of concern in many industrial sectors. The construction industry is no exception. The study described in this paper adopts a critical qualitative approach to investigate sustainability policy practices in the construction industry. This approach includes a statement of principles, sustainability reporting incorporated within a financial report, and a stand-alone sustainability reporting system. The top international contractors listed by Engineering News Record (ENR) were examined. The results show that sustainability policy development varies from case to case in these companies but trends are emerging on common issues addressed. The findings show a trend of increasingly level of disclosure of corporation's commitmnets an achievements on sustainability. Similarly, the energy efficiency and conservation, greenhouse gas emission reduction and integration of renewable energy resources into projects are among the common themes of these sustainability policies disclosed by construction contractors. The construcion industry can learn from the energy sector that is advanced in sustainability reporting.

Suggested Citation

  • Zuo, Jian & Zillante, George & Wilson, Lou & Davidson, Kathryn & Pullen, Stephen, 2012. "Sustainability policy of construction contractors: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 3910-3916.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:16:y:2012:i:6:p:3910-3916
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.03.011
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    Cited by:

    1. Shi, Qian & Yu, Tao & Zuo, Jian, 2015. "What leads to low-carbon buildings? A China study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 726-734.
    2. Kazemi, Maha Zadeh & Elamer, Ahmed A. & Theodosopoulos, Grigorios & Khatib, Saleh F.A., 2023. "Reinvigorating research on sustainability reporting in the construction industry: A systematic review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Yuan, Xueliang & Wang, Xujiang & Zuo, Jian, 2013. "Renewable energy in buildings in China—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 1-8.
    4. Geng, Shengnan & Wang, Yuan & Zuo, Jian & Zhou, Zhihua & Du, Huibin & Mao, Guozhu, 2017. "Building life cycle assessment research: A review by bibliometric analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 176-184.
    5. Zuo, Jian & Zhao, Zhen-Yu, 2014. "Green building research–current status and future agenda: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 271-281.
    6. Keehoon Kwon & Doyeong Kim & Sunkuk Kim, 2021. "Cutting Waste Minimization of Rebar for Sustainable Structural Work: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-21, May.
    7. Shi, Qian & Lai, Xiaodong & Xie, Xin & Zuo, Jian, 2014. "Assessment of green building policies – A fuzzy impact matrix approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 203-211.
    8. Liwen Liu & Yaling Zhang & Lu Zhao & Cun Zhan & Chuan Liang, 2021. "An Attempt to Evaluate the Green Construction of Large-Scale Hydropower Projects: Taking Wudongde Hydropower Station on the Jinsha River, China as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    9. Chang, Rui-Dong & Zuo, Jian & Zhao, Zhen-Yu & Zillante, George & Gan, Xiao-Long & Soebarto, Veronica, 2017. "Evolving theories of sustainability and firms: History, future directions and implications for renewable energy research," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 48-56.

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