Integrating Blockchain into Carbon Emissions Control in Construction Projects: A Conceptual Framework Development

The construction industry is responsible for a significant amount of carbon emissions, leading to extensive research on various approaches to tracking, estimating, and reducing emissions in construction projects. With the advent of blockchain technology, new opportunities have emerged to enhance these approaches. However, integrating blockchain with current methods of controlling carbon emissions is not fully understood, making it challenging to comprehend the holistic view and future research directions of blockchain-enabled carbon emissions control in construction projects. To address this issue, this paper reviewed 98 publications out of the 512 identified in the Web of Science database, which were refined to 61 papers for thorough content analysis. The review focuses on two key areas: (1) current approaches to tracking, estimating, and reducing emissions in construction projects; and (2) blockchain applications for controlling carbon emissions in construction projects. The findings are integrated into a conceptual framework that establishes a holistic view of integrating blockchain into carbon emissions control in construction projects. Additionally, this framework contributes to the body of knowledge by providing detailed directions for future research on (1) blockchain-enabled sustainable material identifications and selections, (2) blockchain-enabled sustainable design, transportation, and construction practices, (3) smart contract–enabled carbon policies and regulations, and (4) smart contract–enabled project administrative approaches for sustainability.