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CIB Conferences

Abstract

Despite a growing national commitment to sustainability, New Zealand's construction sector continued to face significant challenges in reducing its environmental impact. This study presented a thorough analysis of sustainability practices and perceptions among subcontractors within the sector. The research was conducted through a comprehensive questionnaire survey distributed nationwide, with a total of 104 NZ subcontractor respondents, to capture a diverse range of subcontractor businesses, examining their current practices, attitudes, and challenges. The respondent profile, which included a mix of trades, business sizes, and operating sectors, provided a robust dataset for analysis. Findings revealed a growing awareness of sustainability's importance among this community; yet identified a critical gap between expressed interest and tangible implementation. A key disconnect was evident in areas such as sustainable procurement and the effective use of sustainability rating tools. This research explored the key drivers for sustainability adoption, including enhanced competitiveness and alignment with national environmental goals. It was argued that subcontractors were central to achieving more sustainable and cost-effective building outcomes (e.g., cost-effective carbon reduction) through early project involvement. To accelerate their transition from awareness to meaningful, widespread action, a sustainability adoption for subcontractors was proposed.

Keywords

subcontractors, sustainability, subcontractor sustainability, perception, challenges

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