Influence of innovative sustainable construction materials adoption on workplace safety and productivity

Purpose As advocacy for sustainable construction materials grows, understanding their impact on productivity and safety is essential. This study aims to assess how adopting innovative sustainable construction materials (ISCMs) influences workplace safety and productivity in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to decent work and economic growth (Sustainable Development Goal [SDG] 8) and supporting responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). Design/methodology/approach A quantitative design employed an online questionnaire with 113 construction professionals in Lagos, selected through purposive sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, factor analysis and simple linear regression. Findings Four ISCM adoption components were identified, including two linked to health and safety (H&S) and one to productivity. Adoption showed a modest positive impact on H&S, while its relationship with productivity was not statistically significant. This suggests contextual factors and the early stage of adoption among MSMEs may limit broader generalisability. Practical implications Improving safety requires stronger pre-construction planning and client engagement, while productivity enhancement may depend on systemic interventions and research into ISCMs’ indirect effects. Regulatory authorities and industry associations should streamline approval processes and provide incentives to support sustainable material uptake. Originality/value This study demonstrates the limitations of traditional technology adoption models in developing economies and situates ISCM adoption within broader sustainability and decent work agendas.