Implementation of environmentally sustainable practices and their association with ISO 14001 certification in the construction industry of the United Arab Emirates
Hamdi A. Bashir, U. Ojiako, S. Haridy, M. Shamsuzzaman, Rana Musa
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引用次数: 3
Abstract
Abstract Despite significant worldwide growth in ISO 14001 standard adoption by construction firms, limited research exists on issues related to the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices and their associations with ISO 14001 certification. This article reports the results of an empirical study examining the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices, the link between their usage frequencies and ISO 14001 standard adoption, and the association between having this standard and firm size. The methodological approach involved interviews followed by a structured questionnaire to collect data from 259 construction firms in the United Arab Emirates. The results indicate that (1) environmentally sustainable practices have not been used extensively and those that have been implemented have varying usage frequencies, (2) adoption of the standard has been accompanied by partial improvement in the usage frequencies of the practices, and (3) there is no association between firm size and adoption of the standard. These findings can serve as a guide for policymakers as well as project managers in construction firms that are interested in implementing environmentally sustainable practices and those that are planning to invest in ISO 14001 certification.
期刊介绍:
Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy is a refereed, open-access journal which recognizes that climate change and other socio-environmental challenges require significant transformation of existing systems of consumption and production. Complex and diverse arrays of societal factors and institutions will in coming decades need to reconfigure agro-food systems, implement renewable energy sources, and reinvent housing, modes of mobility, and lifestyles for the current century and beyond. These innovations will need to be formulated in ways that enhance global equity, reduce unequal access to resources, and enable all people on the planet to lead flourishing lives within biophysical constraints. The journal seeks to advance scientific and political perspectives and to cultivate transdisciplinary discussions involving researchers, policy makers, civic entrepreneurs, and others. The ultimate objective is to encourage the design and deployment of both local experiments and system innovations that contribute to a more sustainable future by empowering individuals and organizations and facilitating processes of social learning.