Designing for waste efficiency in the Indonesian construction industry

Rapid development of infrastructure in Indonesia, coupled with escalating environmental concerns, has necessitated construction waste minimisation. Notwithstanding that the design stage of construction project delivery processes offers a significant opportunity for waste minimisation, current practices in Indonesia often overlook this stage by rather focusing on waste management during the construction stage. This study investigates the design measures for promoting waste efficiency within the Indonesia construction sector, thereby addressing a gap in existing practices. Employing a quantitative approach that was underpinned by review of extant literature, 468 construction professionals across different roles within the Indonesian construction industry were surveyed using random sampling technique. Results from exploratory factor analysis suggests the significance of optimising design processes to mitigate errors and rework, fostering stakeholder integration to pre-empt constructability and the need to leverage innovations such as the use of prefabrication and secondary materials. Design strategies that support integration, spatial adaptability and standardisation were found to be requisite to mitigating construction waste. Findings of this study suggest the need for a systemic change through policy and incentives for sustainable construction practices, embedding waste prevention into the procurement processes and early-stage collaborations among project stakeholders. Although the findings of this study align with international best practices, they equally provide a pathway for Indonesia to achieve sustainable infrastructural development without the negative impacts associated with waste management. Through findings that are tailored to the Indonesian construction industry and contribution to the broader global discourse on construction, this study provides actionable insights for both practitioners and policymakers.