A systematic review to establish net-zero carbon emissions requirements for contractor selection in construction

Purpose - Establishing net-zero carbon emissions requirements can provide a meaningful reference for construction clients to choose the most qualified contractors in bid evaluation that will not only meet the client’s specifications but also meet the global net-zero emission target. Moreover, integrating net-zero emissions requirements into contractor selection criteria in bid evaluation will stimulate the bidders to improve their construction schemes, enabling the construction phase to be environmentally friendly. This study aims to develop a novel conceptual framework for net-zero emission contractor selection.
Design/methodology/approach - The traditional method of conducting a systematic literature review based on preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses protocol was used in this study. The methodology is grounded on an explicit and structured procedure for searching, selecting and reviewing relevant literature in a subject matter.
Findings - The paper identifies 40 net-zero carbon emission requirements and classified them into seven bid evaluation categories. The study further presents, a novel conceptual framework that provides a methodical and holistic approach to selecting contractors who are equipped to meet net-zero emissions target in construction projects.
Originality/value - The novelty of this study stems from the development of an innovative conceptual framework to establish a structured and holistic model that evaluates contractors not just based on the traditional contractor selection criteria but also on the capacity to effectively and efficiently meet net-zero emissions goal in construction projects. This is imperative as there is an exigence for the construction industry to drastically cut down on carbon dioxide emissions generated by its activities.