Abstract
Owing to its contribution of largest portion of landfill wastes and consumption of about half of mineral resources excavated from nature, construction industry has remained a major target for achieving global sustainability. Despite an adoption of several waste management strategies, and introduction of various legislative measures, reducing waste generated by the industry remains challenging. In order to understand cultural factors contributing to waste intensiveness of the industry, as well as those preventing effectiveness of existing waste management strategies, this study examines cultural profile of construction industry. Drawing on four focus group discussions with industry experts, the study employs phenomenological approach to explore waste inducing culture.
Combining findings from phenomenological research with extant literatures, the study suggests that in order to reduce waste intensiveness of the construction industry, four waste inducing cultures need to be changed. These include (i) make-do understanding that usually result in make-do waste (ii) noncollaborative culture, which results in reworks and other forms of wasteful activities (iii) blame culture, which encourages shifting of waste preventive responsibilities between designers and contractors, and (iv) culture of waste behaviour, which encourages belief in waste inevitability. These sets of measures are not only important for engendering waste management practices; they are requisite for effectiveness of existing strategies. Thus, this paper advocates cultural shift as a means of enhancing sustainability and profitability of the construction industry.
Combining findings from phenomenological research with extant literatures, the study suggests that in order to reduce waste intensiveness of the construction industry, four waste inducing cultures need to be changed. These include (i) make-do understanding that usually result in make-do waste (ii) noncollaborative culture, which results in reworks and other forms of wasteful activities (iii) blame culture, which encourages shifting of waste preventive responsibilities between designers and contractors, and (iv) culture of waste behaviour, which encourages belief in waste inevitability. These sets of measures are not only important for engendering waste management practices; they are requisite for effectiveness of existing strategies. Thus, this paper advocates cultural shift as a means of enhancing sustainability and profitability of the construction industry.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
| Event | CIB Proceedings 2015: Going north for sustainability: Leveraging knowledge and innovation for sustainable construction and development - Duration: 23 Nov 2015 → 25 Nov 2015 |
Conference
| Conference | CIB Proceedings 2015: Going north for sustainability: Leveraging knowledge and innovation for sustainable construction and development |
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| Period | 23/11/15 → 25/11/15 |