Assessing perceptions of environmental management in the construction industry: a case study of construction companies in the Gauteng Province

Abstract

This study looks into the perceptions of construction industry professionals working for grade 9 CIDB registered companies within the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Given that construction is not only of high economic value but also of high environmental impact, understanding the perceptions of construction professionals regarding their obligation towards the environment is crucial for ensuring sustainability in the construction industry. Informed by Stakeholder Theory, Institutional Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior, the investigation used a quantitative cross-sectional design entailing structured questionnaires among Environmental Officers (EOs) and Project Managers (PMs). There were 66 valid responses (35 EOs and 31 PMs) which were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Respondents showed a very high sense of consciousness and positive attitudes towards environmental regulations, with a 90% of them rating compliance at "extremely important." Yet environmental practice application remains reactive and inconsistent, with prevalence of the obsessions of audits rather than inherent commitment. Key inhibitions reported were lack of funds, insufficiency of commitment by management, lack of coordination and ambiguity of regulations. Notably, cost perception was a key inhibition reported and environmental compliance was viewed as an added cost burden. The study concludes that while environmental stewardship commitment at the theoretical level does exist, application is limited by structural, institutional and perceptual problems. Its recommendation for greater policy conformity, capacity building initiatives and organizational leadership acts to promote mainstreaming of sustainable construction practice. Such a result seeks to bring environmental policy closer to on-site practice for South Africa's construction industry.