Developing guidelines for adopting an environmental orientation for construction and related organisations within the supply chain in the construction industry

Caring for the natural environment and contributing to the objectives of sustainable development is becoming an integral focus of business strategy. This outlook is being recognised by the United Kingdom government and the business community. The research is set within the context of the supply chain of the construction industry. It aims to explore how construction and related organisations are responding to the challenges of sustainable development and the natural environment. Primary, qualitative, exploratory and case study research was carried out with construction and related organisations involved in meeting the challenges of sustainable development and with those who have the responsibility for the management of sustainable development and the natural environmental at strategic and operational levels. The outcomes from the primary research are indicative in that construction and related organisations are changing their business strategy from basic compliance with legislation to a leading edge environmental orientation. To achieve this orientation organisations are taking a stakeholder focus and a long-term view in business strategy towards the objectives of sustainable development. Furthermore the primary research provides insight and understanding into adopting an environmental orientation. The significant offering of this thesis is the identification of the movement of construction and related organisations towards sustainable development and the evolution of benchmarks to enable these organisations to have sustainability as an integral component of business strategy.