Decarbonizing construction: a multi-level perspective analysis of green concrete transition in the Netherlands

Abstract

The Netherlands is one of the frontrunners in green concrete with innovative pilot projects and institutional settings (e.g. concrete agreement). However, mainstreaming green concrete needs to further overcome economic, institutional, technical and social barriers. Especially, demand-side organizations can play a critical role by setting environmental standards and project prioritization. In this regard, this study aims to understand how demand-side organizations can stimulate green concrete adoption in the construction sector by using the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework. The MLP framework was chosen to understand the dynamics between socio-technical elements that shape the transition. This research uses a qualitative research approach by interviewing 12 key experts in the Dutch concrete industry based on their expertise and experience. Interviewees were identified based on the snowballing technique. Subsequent thematic analysis reveals strategies for accelerating green concrete adoption. Key findings emphasize the need to promote diverse cement types tailored to specific applications, accelerate the development of alternative supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), create aggregate demand for near-mature innovations and provide large-scale testing for radical innovations. This research provides construction stakeholders with a framework for identifying leverage points where policy alignment and market demand can jointly drive innovation diffusion. This study highlights the necessity of integrating incremental and radical innovations to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. This study contributes to the construction management field by translating transition theory into operational insights for project-based organizations and demand-side actors.