An international review of environmental initiatives in the construction sector

The release of the international standard for environmental management ISO 14001 in 1996, and the subsequent amendments (ISO 14001, 2004), including another due in 2015 (BSI, 2013, Briggs, 2012), have resulted in wider acceptance of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) across various industrial sectors. There is increasing interest amongst researchers and practitioners around the world in undertaking studies to identify the impact of EMS on construction operations. This paper adds to the growing body of literature by presenting a comprehensive review of environmental initiatives (including EMS) globally. Findings of the meta-analysis of sector-wide developments and initiatives in countries grouped into regions are presented. A key recommendation is that governments should have sector-specific, equally enforced EMS guidelines for firms tendering for construction projects, irrespective of the nationality of the parent company, to ensure an equitable competitive field. Further recommendations are that construction sector firms should undertake cost-benefit analyses to identify tangible and intangible costs and benefits from EMS implementation, as well as conduct life-cycle analysis on construction projects. Lastly, stakeholder involvement in successful initiation and completion of construction projects should not be overlooked.