How can the United Kingdom construction industry implement sustainable procurement strategies?

The aim of this study was to examine the implementation of sustainable procurement within the United Kingdom Construction Industry (UKCI) to allow the authors to make recommendations for improvement, in order to promote the adoption of good practice in the future. The research identified not only a range of benefits from the implementation of sustainable procurement strategies but also barriers to the success of such initiatives if implemented.  The research extended a previous scoping study and employed a cross-sectional study utilising semi-structured interviews to test the initial findings generated by the literature review that involved a number of interviews representing a cross section of the UKCI. The findings from the research suggest that companies should embrace sustainable procurement in its entirety and embed strategies fully within the organisation to achieve maximum benefits and cost savings. The impact of these cost savings should be communicated more widely in the UKCI to quell the myth that implementation of sustainable procurement is expensive. The supply chain should work collaboratively to increase the knowledge of organisations with less experience. This would increase participation from those within the UKCI who are resistant to change. The Government should continue to encourage the supply chain to act sustainably and continue to improve awareness of sustainable procurement strategies through the provision of additional information and development of guidance. The research also suggested that where a local supply chain is employed, smaller organisations should be fully supported.  A fully supported supply chain would smaller organisations to obtain the necessary financial backing and access to the correct goods and services, who are therefore more able to meet the requirements of contractors and clients. Although the UKCI would benefit from a more integrated supply chain, the authors question where the financial support may come from to achieve this.