Barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in Zimbabwe
Purpose The built environment contributes to environmental concerns, including carbon emissions, with traditional construction materials being problematic. Adopting sustainable construction materials (SCMs) is envisaged; however, barriers exist. Hence, this study sought to determine significant bar...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Emerald Publishing Limited
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/44740/ http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/44740/1/Barriers%20to%20the%20adoption%20of%20sustainable%20construction.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848827171241459712 |
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| author | Moyo, Tirivavi Mudombo, Mable Vongai Omer, Mazen Mohamed Alkhdar Moyo, Cynthia |
| author_facet | Moyo, Tirivavi Mudombo, Mable Vongai Omer, Mazen Mohamed Alkhdar Moyo, Cynthia |
| author_sort | Moyo, Tirivavi |
| building | UMP Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Purpose
The built environment contributes to environmental concerns, including carbon emissions, with traditional construction materials being problematic. Adopting sustainable construction materials (SCMs) is envisaged; however, barriers exist. Hence, this study sought to determine significant barriers to adopting SCMs in Zimbabwe.
Design/methodology/approach
An online questionnaire survey of construction professionals in consultancy firms and semi-structured interviews with key informants in Zimbabwe and Africa were instituted. Mean score analysis, normalisation values and exploratory factor analysis were quantitatively used to determine significant barriers. Content analysis of qualitative data from key informants was used to triangulate the findings.
Findings
From the normalisation (with values > 0.90) and thematic analysis, a lack of incentives, training and government support were exposed as the most critical barriers. The factor analysis revealed seven significant components: governmental policy, finance and research support-related; sustainable construction material supply chain-related; green building policy and capacitation-related; change and trust-related; cost and complexity-related; project execution and investment-related and awareness and demand-related.
Research limitations/implications
The insights of construction professionals from construction companies were not solicited. However, construction consultancy professionals who have a more significant influence on adopting SCMs were included. The government and clients are most critical in promoting the adoption of SCMs through enacting relevant policies and establishing buy-in.
Originality/value
According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to determine barriers to adopting SCMs through the contribution of key informants from various countries within the African continent. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T03:56:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | ump-44740 |
| institution | Universiti Malaysia Pahang |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T03:56:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | ump-447402025-06-06T03:47:23Z http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/44740/ Barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in Zimbabwe Moyo, Tirivavi Mudombo, Mable Vongai Omer, Mazen Mohamed Alkhdar Moyo, Cynthia TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TH Building construction Purpose The built environment contributes to environmental concerns, including carbon emissions, with traditional construction materials being problematic. Adopting sustainable construction materials (SCMs) is envisaged; however, barriers exist. Hence, this study sought to determine significant barriers to adopting SCMs in Zimbabwe. Design/methodology/approach An online questionnaire survey of construction professionals in consultancy firms and semi-structured interviews with key informants in Zimbabwe and Africa were instituted. Mean score analysis, normalisation values and exploratory factor analysis were quantitatively used to determine significant barriers. Content analysis of qualitative data from key informants was used to triangulate the findings. Findings From the normalisation (with values > 0.90) and thematic analysis, a lack of incentives, training and government support were exposed as the most critical barriers. The factor analysis revealed seven significant components: governmental policy, finance and research support-related; sustainable construction material supply chain-related; green building policy and capacitation-related; change and trust-related; cost and complexity-related; project execution and investment-related and awareness and demand-related. Research limitations/implications The insights of construction professionals from construction companies were not solicited. However, construction consultancy professionals who have a more significant influence on adopting SCMs were included. The government and clients are most critical in promoting the adoption of SCMs through enacting relevant policies and establishing buy-in. Originality/value According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to determine barriers to adopting SCMs through the contribution of key informants from various countries within the African continent. Emerald Publishing Limited 2024 Article PeerReviewed pdf en http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/44740/1/Barriers%20to%20the%20adoption%20of%20sustainable%20construction.pdf Moyo, Tirivavi and Mudombo, Mable Vongai and Omer, Mazen Mohamed Alkhdar and Moyo, Cynthia (2024) Barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print). pp. 1-19. ISSN 2398-4708. (In Press / Online First) (In Press / Online First) https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-04-2024-0076 https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-04-2024-0076 |
| spellingShingle | TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TH Building construction Moyo, Tirivavi Mudombo, Mable Vongai Omer, Mazen Mohamed Alkhdar Moyo, Cynthia Barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in Zimbabwe |
| title | Barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | barriers to the adoption of sustainable construction materials in zimbabwe |
| topic | TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TH Building construction |
| url | http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/44740/ http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/44740/ http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/44740/ http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/44740/1/Barriers%20to%20the%20adoption%20of%20sustainable%20construction.pdf |