The study aims at providing an increased understanding of sustainability practices in small and medium-sized construction and civil engineering companies. The work intends to contribute with knowledge about what drives and prevents these companies to intensify their sustainability practices and thus contribute to the achievement of Swedish climate goals.
The study mainly has a deductive approach, and to achieve the aim of the study, a qualitative method was chosen. Respondents from three small and medium-sized construction and civil engineering companies participated in semi-structured interviews. These interviews were transcribed and analyzed by qualitative content analysis.
The study shows that it is only the medium-sized company that has a pronounced sustainability work of the participating companies. Important drivers for the companies to engage in sustainability, are that they can see that it is economically profitable and that stakeholders are demanding or require that the company work with issues related to sustainability. Further, the study shows that an important time in the construction process is under planning and projection. The companies are hindered in their sustainability work in cases where they carry out work for larger players. Then materials and working methods are often already procured and the smaller companies' ability to influence the construction process is limited. The smallest company in the survey, which mainly has private individuals as customers, is limited, among other things, in the absence of resources, time, and knowledge. The highest priority is to get the business profitable and thus sustainability issues will have lower priority until it is impossible to ignore these issues. Furthermore, there is a common picture among the respondents that companies in the construction and civil engineering sector work according to old routines and methods, which they believe inhibit sustainability work. Finally, only the medium-sized company was aware of the roadmap that small and medium-sized construction and civil engineering companies are exhorted to be part of to achieve Swedish climate goals. Some practical recommendations are given to support small and medium-sized companies in reaching a climate neutral and competitive construction and civil engineering sector.