This document discusses sustainable procurement in construction (SPC) in emerging economies, including its definition, benefits, drivers, and challenges. SPC aims to minimize environmental and social impacts across a project's lifecycle by considering economic, environmental and social factors. It can reduce waste, energy and water usage, lower costs, and improve health, productivity and brand reputation. Challenges include lack of awareness, measurement issues, high upfront costs, and conflicts between priorities. Recommendations include policies, incentives, transparency, collaboration, innovation and addressing social justice issues. Examples of sustainable construction projects in various emerging economy contexts are also provided.

1. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
PROCUREMENT IN AN EMERGING
ECONOMY
CHALLENGES & RECOMMENDATIONS
Arc VIVIENNE AMEH-OGBONNA
MNIA, PMP, RMP, MCIPS, PRINCE 2

2. Content
Definition
The Triple bottom line
Why SPC
Benefits of SPC
Drivers of SPC
Challenges & Recommendations
Building Examples

3. Sustainable Procurement in
Construction (SPC)
Sustainable Procurement in Construction
(SPC) is the process used to secure the
acquisition of goods and services (products) in
industry in a way that ensures that there is
the least impact on society and the
environment throughout the life cycle of the
project by balancing the the triple bottom line
of economy, environment and social justice.

4. The Triple Bottomline

5. Why Sustainable Procurement in
Construction
32%
of landfill waste comes from construction and demolition of
buildings
13%
of products delivered to construction sites for use are left as waste
Economic: Synchronize with the change agenda. The need to
minimizewaste, through innovation and creativity!

6. Why SPC in emerging countries
Dwindling price of oil, high interest rates and cost of funds
Emerging countries are characterized by lack of infrastructure
and basic services and sometimes have difficulty in
maintaining existing (traditional) infrastructure.
High levels of inequity between the rich and the poor who are
in the majority necessitating more affordable housing with
whole life cost benefits
Although emerging countries consume less resources and
emit far less green house gases than developed countries,
their environmental degradation has more direct and physical
impact on the poor who are more with less ability to absorb
the damage.
Abundance of opportunities to go sustainable with building
materials and settlement development.

7. Benefits
Environment
Developing sustainable buildings
minimizes the use of water, raw
materials, energy and land. Reduction
in carbon emissions, waste and
pollution in the environment and
protects employees’ health
Water conservation: mitigate the risk
of water shortage, by featuring
systems appliances and landscape
that require little water
Raw Materials: Focus is not on
consumption of natural resources but
use of more environmentally
responsible products such as recycled
or renewable resources. Adopt more
durable solutions to increase life span
and eliminates waste.

8. Benefits
Environment
Energy: Sustainable buildings include
energy-saving appliances that lower
carbon emissions and reliance on fossil
fuels. These include solar or hydro
energy.
Land: Choice of land to build properties
in areas where construction will lead to
the least possible land degradation and
deforestation affect biodiversity or
endanger natural wild life while
promoting healthy landscaping and
preventing erosion.
Temperature moderation. Site selection,
conscientious building design in building
orientation and tree planting
Waste reduction: building deconstruction
instead of demolition which leads to
massive waste production; reuse, recycle
eg briquetting.

9. Benefits
Economic
• Cost and Value: High-performing
green buildings provide the best value
for the public through both life cycle
cost benefits and positive effects on
human health and performance.
Reduced life cycle costs, with 45% less
energy consumption, 53% lower
maintenance cost and 39% less water
use.
• Energy and waste saving
• Increased property values
• Decreased infrastructure strain
through minimal exertion on the local
power grid and water supply and
other local infrastructure.
• Improved Employee attendance and
Productivity

10. Benefits
• Social
• Market value and competitive
advantage
• Brand reputation: Green
building certification institute
(GBCI) and Leadership in
Energy and environmental
design (LEED) accreditations.
• More engaged stakeholders
(internal and external) who
identify with the corporate
sustainability initiatives
• Healthier life style
• Ethical and behavioral outlook

11. Drivers
Government pressure and
incentives eg tax rebates
Customers & competition
pressure
Culture change and
increased awareness
Risk Management
Certification, ISO 14001,
LEED, NEASRA and EIA
Rewards & Recognition.
Organizational factors
Brand identity
Market strategy and
competitive advantage.

12. CHALLENGES
&
RECOMMENDATIONS

13. Challenge: Lack of public
awareness, understanding,
Information & Commitment to
sustainability
Recommendation: Incorporate
Sustainability in government
procurement policies and
organizational policies. Create
a culture, change values, and
consumer preference through
school education, trainings and
programs like the CPD
1

14. Challenge: Organizational
inertia, ignorance of and lack
of direction on sustainability
issues. Insufficient and
inconsistent policies,
regulations, incentives and
management commitment.
Recommendation: Enact
Policies, Laws to drive
Organisational commitment, get
government commitment.
Government incentive like tax
rebate to sustainable org.
2

15. Challenge: Measurement of
impact of SCP initiatives and
linkage of performance to the
initiative to show benefits.
Recommendation: Integration
of practice and academia to
Design of framework for
process management through
the formulation of key
performance indicators peculiar
to our culture and in line with
best practices.
3

16. Challenge: Impression of high
capital outlay in executing
sustainable construction
procurement practice.
Recommendation: Adopt
lean principles plan for SPC
from inception to enable
waste elimination, avoid
structural overdesign,
optimize site orientation,
eliminate unnecessary
finishes. Reuse and Recycle!
4

17. Challenge: Conflict in achieving
economic prosperity at the
detriment of environmental
stewardship and social justice
Recommendation: Explore
options like; Economic: first
tier suppliers to use smaller
businesses (SME) as sub
contractors/ consultants
Social; contracting with
voluntary organization and
Environmental; zero use of
hazardous materials
5

18. Challenge: Ethical Supply
Issues, with respect to
corporate social responsibility
and behavioral Integrity.
Recommendation: Pressure from
end users for SCP, culture
change and demand for ethical
responsibility down the supply
chain causing a ripple effect, for
instance the use of fair trade
products
6

19. Challenge: Lack of transparency
and efficiency in the
procurement system in
minimizing environmental
impacts and increasing social
impacts.
Recommendation: Adoption of
e-procurement will reduce
transaction costs, aid
transparency prevent maverick
buying, aid better decision
making and get value for
money.
7

20. Challenge: Default traditional
procurement system results in
poor relationship management
system for sustainable issues
Recommendation: Inclusive
and integrated project teams
will enable Information
exchange and collaboration
along the supply chain to aid
implementation of sustainable
procurement policies in supply
relationships
8

21. Challenge: Innovation in
building materials and
methods is in short supply,
and need for alternative to
conventional bldg materials
Recommendation: Consider
use of agricultural waste
products and other biological
materials as building
materials. More research to
enable adaptation
(mordernisation) of
traditional building practices
9

22. Challenge: Social justice Issue
of marginalization of women
in the construction industry.
Male dominated field.
Recommendation:
Recognition of gender
discrimination, appreciation
of diversity and inclusion of
minority would lead to more
innovative ideas of achieving
sustainability.
10

23. CONCLUSION
“We need to defend the
interests of those whom
we've never met and never
will.”
Jeffrey D. Sachs
“You can never have an
impact on society if you have
not changed yourself’.”
Nelson Mandela
“The greatest threat to our
planet is believing that
someone else would save it!”
Robert Swan

24. CREDITS
Berry, C. and McCarthy, S. (2011).
Guide to sustainable procurement in
construction. Ciria. London
Mensah, S and Ameyaw, C (2012)
Sustainable procurement: the
challenges of practice in the Ghanian
Construction Industry. ResearchGate.
Conference paper
Belfitt, R.J; Sexton, M, Schweber L,and
Handcock B (2011). Sustainable
Procurement-Challenges of
construction Practice. TSBE EngD
Conference

25. CREDITS
Preuss, L. (2009). Addressing sustainable
development through public
procurement: the case of local
government. Supply Chain Management:
An International Journal, 14(3), 213-223.
Walker, H., & Phillips, W. (2008).
Sustainable procurement: emerging
issues. International Journal of
Procurement Management, 2(1), 41-61.
Walker, H., & Brammer, S. (2012). The
relationship between sustainable
procurement and e-procurement in the
public sector. International Journal of
Production Economics, 140(1), 256-268.

26. CREDITS
Plessis, C Agenda 21 for sustainable
Construction in developing Countries.
Programme for sustainable Human
settlements, CSIR Building and
Construction
Sourani, A and Sohail, M., (2011)
Barriers to addressing sustainable
construction in public procurement
strategies. Proceedings of the
institution of Civil Engineers:
Engineering Sustainability, 164(4).
Pp.229-237

27. Thank You!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivienne-ogbonna-4744514b
I am Vivienne Ogbonna and I am desperately trying to make
common sense!

28. Use of local
materials in
construction and
low energy
Built totally on site
from sustainable
materials
• PROJECT: TUDOR APARTMENTS
• LOCATION: MOMBASSA
• ARCHITECT: Urko Sánchez
• SUSTAINABILE FEATURES: ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL
Harmony with the
Environment (local Culture)

29. • PROJECT: UMUBANO PRIMARY SCHOOL
• LOCATION: KIGALI, RWANDA
• ARCHITECT: MASS Design Group
• SUSTAINABILE FEATURES: ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL
Totally aligned to
landsacpe Built totally on site
from sustainable
materials

30. Solar
panels
Natural
Biodegradable
material
Recycled
barrels
Natural Ventilation• PROJECT: MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL
• LOCATION: MAROKO, LAGOS STATE
• ARCHITECT: Kunle Adeyemi
• SUSTAINABILE FEATURES: ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL,
ECONOMIC

31. Use of locally made bricks
for cooling instead of heat
retaining concrete
Wide overhangs that resist rain
and allow passive air circulate
• PROJECT: CENTRE FOR EARTH
ARCHITECTURE
• LOCATION: GANDO, BURKINASO
• ARCHITECT: Francis Kéré
• SUSTAINABILE FEATURES: ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC

32. Preservation of Landscaping
for oxygen and cooling.
• PROJECT: RED PEPPER HOUSE
• LOCATION: LAMU, KENYA
• ARCHITECT: Urko Sánchez
• SUSTAINABILITY: ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL,
ECONOMIC
Use of traditional Swahili
solutions
Harmony with the
Environment (local Culture)

33. Preservation of Landscaping
for oxygen and cooling.
Use of locally made bricks
for cooling instead of heat
retaining concrete
• PROJECT: SCHOOL LIBRARY GANDO
• LOCATION: GANDO, BURKINASO
• ARCHITECT: Francis Kéré
• SUSTAINABILITY: ENVIRONMENTAL,
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL
•

34. Context Change….
2014 2015 2016
USD 155 197 305.25
MPR 12 13 14
INFLATION 8.6 8.2 17.85
CRUDE 112.75 37.80 47.62
Culled from CBN.Org website