Effects of Project Management Challenges on the Use of Sustainable Construction Materials: Evidence from Construction Industry Practitioners

Abstract The transition of the construction industry to sustainability is often hindered by project management challenges that prevent the effective use of sustainable construction materials. This study examines how cost, schedule, procurement, and stakeholder management challenges influence the implementation of sustainable construction materials in building projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A quantitative research design was employed, and an online questionnaire was distributed to construction professionals actively involved in building projects. The data collected were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to explore the relationship between project management issues and the use of sustainable materials. The results revealed that the challenges of cost, schedule, and procurement has significant impact on the sustainable martials adoption in the building construction projects, whereby the stakeholder challenges has insignificant impact on the sustainable materials. These findings highlight the need for targeted measures to address obstacles in cost, scheduling, and procurement, thereby promoting the adoption of sustainable materials. This paper expands the current body of knowledge by assessing the combined effects of key project management areas and offers practical insights for project managers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to improve sustainable construction approaches. Future research is encouraged to propose a framework in order to mitigate the challenges of cost, schedule, and procurement in the adoption of sustainable construction materials.