Contractors' attitudes towards the factors affecting sustainability performance: Evidence from Palestine

Abstract

Implementing more sustainable practices in the construction industry would provide healthier and safer environmental conditions as well as ethical approaches. The conventional wisdom is that their uptake will continue to improve in line with its familiarity and applicability among industry stakeholders at the forefront of onsite project activities. Thus, an investigation was carried out into the factors affecting the sustainability performance of contractors in Palestine, particularly at the project execution stage. A questionnaire survey of 42 factors was administered to 90 registered contractors. Analysis of results using the mean value technique revealed that the cost of fundamental project resources, labor‐related factors, and destruction of natural habitat and depletion of natural resources were the most significant factors affecting contractors' sustainability performance. Despite being a limited exercise in scope, it is recommended that consideration is given to any potential cost fluctuations, as well as explicit mention of gain and pain issues within the project documentation, in order to sustainably operate in the construction sector of Palestine, while continuing to contribute to the national economy.