Lean meets green: uncovering the integration enablers to lean construction management and sustainable construction

Purpose Sustainability and sustainable project management have recently become prominent topics in academic research and in professional applications. This study investigates enablers bridging lean construction management (LCM) and sustainable construction (SC). Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted to compile enablers for LCM and SC. A mixed-methodology approach was adopted, beginning with a two-round Delphi survey, in which a panel of experts ranked 24 enablers of LCM and SC, with government, energy efficiency and availability of leadership skills identified as the most important, followed by a survey questionnaire distributed to 600 construction professionals. Findings Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed multi-level drivers' implications, emphasizing institutional support at the macro level, collaborative project management at the meso level, and operational leadership at the micro level to integrate LCM with SC. Originality/value This study highlights the interconnectedness between LCM and SC, demonstrating how lean practices can positively impact sustainability by reducing waste, enhancing environmental management and improving collaborative construction projects. The novel insights into LCM-SC integration under resource-constrained, high-risk environments offer a transferable model for emerging economies.