From Green to Regenerative Supply Chain Management in Construction: Development of a Robust Integrated Decision-Making Approach to facilitate the paradigm shift

Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) is considered to be an effective management tool, aiming to integrate environmental sustainability thinking into the various stages of the construction supply chain. This is in relation to its ability to substantially reduce greenhouse emissions, energy consumption, pollution, waste, and other drivers of negative environmental impacts across the entire construction supply chain management phases. Despite the implementation of GSCM practices as a means to reduce negative environmental footprints, climate change continues to occur with a steady rise in greenhouse gas emissions per year that are associated with the built environment. Moreover, recent reports from the United Nations (UN) indicate that the global construction industry is still far from achieving its decarbonization goals by 2050, despite the integration of various sustainability practices, including sustainable technologies, policies, and solutions. This, therefore, reinforces that green or sustainability is no longer enough to eliminate the current negative impacts of construction activities on our built environment.

To address these challenges, there is a need for a paradigm shift from a green to a proactive approach called regenerative thinking that focuses not only on reducing negative environmental footprints but also aims to restore and renew our ecosystems, communities, and the built environment in general. The shift from a green to a regenerative paradigm in construction brings about a comprehensive change in how construction projects are conceived, designed, and executed. By embracing this shift, the construction industry has the potential to redefine its impact, demonstrating that it can not only construct functional spaces but also actively contribute to the regeneration of the built environment.

Despite the numerous benefits associated with shifting from green to a regenerative paradigm in construction, there exists a deficiency in research that has been able to address how the various GSCM practices used in the construction industry can move beyond limiting negative environmental impact or achieving sustainability alone. Against this backdrop, this research aims to establish a robust approach that integrates regenerative principles into the current GSCM practices used in the construction industry in an attempt to develop and facilitate the adoption of a novel, regenerative supply chain management (RSCM). To achieve this aim, the research begins with an assessment of the current GSCM practices and their limitations across various stages of the construction supply chain through a systematic literature review. It then proceeds to explore enhancements for each stage and their associated limitations, drawing from regenerative principles that acknowledge the interconnectedness of human actions with nature. This integration resulted in the development of a preliminary conceptual RSCM model which was further validated using a multi-phase approach. Further investigation leads to the formulation of performance evaluation criteria tailored to the regenerative approach, which then informs the development of a systematic model assigning priorities to the validated RSCM practices. To complement the overall research objective, an automated RSCM decision support system (RSCM-DSS) was developed and further validated to facilitate informed decision-making and practical implementation of the RSCM practices developed in this study. A variety of data collection techniques, including literature review, real-life case studies, and experts identified through purposeful and snowballing sampling techniques, among others were employed in this study. Data were analysed via descriptive statistics, Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS), among others.

This research offers significant theoretical, practical, and policy implications. Theoretically, it advances green and sustainable thinking in construction by integrating regenerative principles throughout the supply chain management phases, developing a comprehensive model that emphasises interconnectedness. Practically, the research offers refined performance evaluation criteria for monitoring regenerative initiatives and stresses stakeholder collaboration for better outcomes. On the policy front, the findings enable policymaking for restoration-focused regulations, potentially integrating regenerative principles into standards such as the construction contract documents. In essence, this research seeks to reshape paradigms, guide practices, and influence policies, ultimately steering the construction sector towards a more regenerative and holistic approach.