Triple Helix Approach: Collaboration Towards Green Procurement Implementation in Construction Projects

Abstract

In line with the Agenda 21 in promoting sustainable development worldwide, addressing environmental, social and economic issues, several initiatives and strategies were introduced to ensure that these issues can be solved. The sustainable agenda also outlines a set of principles, objectives and action which encourages a participatory and collaboration approach which involves various stakeholders in the sustainable practices. Focusing on the construction sector, the environmental problem caused by this sector has a huge impact on the environment. Hence it is important to develop sustainable construction practices to ensure that the environment is well protected. The current situation in construction industry requires a paradigm shift from conventional practice to a greener approach. Green procurement was introduced as one of the strategies to maintain and minimize environmental impacts produced by products and services. However, green procurement cannot be achieved by organizations in isolation: in fact, it requires collaboration of all construction stakeholders. The objective of this study is to explore the nexus of Triple Helix Approach (THA) in fostering collaborations with the government, academician, and construction stakeholders towards green procurement implementation in construction project. The study uses focus group discussion to explore the collaboration among these three stakeholders and Atlas.ti was used to analyse the findings.  The outcome of this study will provide information on the way Triple Helix approach can promote collaborations towards green procurement implementation in construction projects.