Sustainability Assessment Practices in the Construction Industry: The Untold Story of South Africa

Sustainability assessment is a formidable template for evaluating plans, policies, and activities toward the drive and actualisation of sustainable development. It helps appraise the steps taken and projected actions to align policies within the tenets of sustainability. However, the construction industry in South Africa appears to be on the back foot in fully harnessing the dividends of sustainable assessment. Based on the preceding, this study examined the critical hurdles to implementing sustainability assessment in the South African construction industry. A quantitative approach was employed with relevant professionals as the target population, while the data retrieved was subjected to appropriate empirical analysis. Findings showed that lack of requisite knowledge and cultural barriers were the most significant challenges in deploying sustainability assessment in the South African construction industry. The outcome of this study would serve as a good reference for policymakers, government officials, and relevant stakeholders in making informed policies and plans that aligns with the creeds of sustainable development. Furthermore, it serves as a solid theoretical base for future studies to propagate sustainability assessment for the South African construction industry.