Bridging Sustainability and Performance: Conceptualizing Net-Zero Integration in Construction Supply Chain Evaluations

The construction industry is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, highlighting the need to align material supply chains with net-zero targets. Evaluating supply chain performance is essential for reducing emissions, enhancing resource efficiency, and supporting sustainable decision-making. However, there is a lack of comprehensive frameworks that integrate net-zero objectives into construction material supply chain evaluation. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework that embeds net-zero principles into supply chain performance evaluation within the construction sector. A systematic literature review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines, covering 54 peer-reviewed articles published between 2016 and 2025. The review identifies key supply chain decarbonization performance indicators, tools, challenges, enablers, and improvement opportunities. The findings reveal the growing use of life cycle thinking, carbon accounting, and digitalization, shaped by policy, data access, technological readiness, and stakeholder coordination. The resulting framework integrates these factors to guide a structured, net-zero-aligned supply chain. This study contributes a novel and practical framework that addresses a critical gap by bridging digital tools, decarbonization metrics, and policy or organizational considerations. It offers theoretical insights and actionable guidance for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers pursuing climate-aligned construction supply chains.