An integrated framework for managing sustainability in construction projects

Purpose In both research and practice, the lack of explicit, actionable project-level sustainability management hinders the translation of high-level strategies into effective project-lifecycle practices. This paper addresses this gap by developing a holistic and process-based management framework for managing sustainability in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative, exploratory design with design science research to develop and validate a sustainability management framework for construction projects. It was built from literature and best practice synthesis, then validated through interviews and quantitative evaluations with 14 industry experts, enabling refinement and ensuring theoretical and practical relevance. Findings The resulting framework, GEPAS, comprises five interlinked components: A1-Define sustainability goals, A2-Enhance the project team, A3-Plan sustainability, A4-Assess sustainability and A5-Manage stakeholders. Evaluation indicated that GEPAS offers clear, structured and practical guidance for integrating sustainability into construction project management. Practical implications GEPAS enables project managers and stakeholders to define, implement and monitor sustainability objectives systematically, fostering collaboration, informed decision-making and greater stakeholder empowerment through clear roles, shared ownership and active engagement. Its alignment with established standards allows integration into existing practices with minimal disruption, while helping projects deliver measurable contributions to relevant SDGs. Originality/value This research is the first to develop and validate a process-based framework that holistically embeds sustainability principles into all stages of the construction project lifecycle, while aligning with existing project management standards. It advances theory by operationalising sustainability as a core project objective and offers practitioners a practical tool to overcome common barriers to sustainable delivery.