Assessing Sustainability Levels Via International Construction Firms

This report delves into the pivotal role of international construction firms in fostering sustainability across the globe. It begins by highlighting the importance of sustainable construction practices, emphasizing the need to balance societal benefits with environmental preservation. The report explores how international firms introduce sustainable design concepts, collaborate with governments, and influence local practices to meet global standards. It examines the advantages of involving international firms, such as increased efficiency, financial support, and the adoption of sustainable business practices. The report also addresses the differences between local and international sustainability practices, the varying levels of sustainability achieved in different countries, and the potential disadvantages of hiring international contractors. Furthermore, it provides a historical perspective on gaining sustainability through international contracts, compares sustainability changes in developed and developing countries, and outlines the methods employed by international companies to achieve project sustainability goals. The report concludes with an assessment of sustainable construction in Australia and India, illustrating the diverse approaches and outcomes in different regions.

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 1
Title
Author’s name
Institutional affiliation

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 2
Table of Contents
Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................3
Sustainability Through International Firms.................................................................................................4
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................4
How sustainability has been achieved in the world through international construction........................5
Advantages of introducing international firms in a country for the increase of sustainability.................7
Differences between the local practices and international practices for achieving sustainability.............9
Sustainability levels attained by Australia through international construction firms.............................10
Disadvantages of giving the contract to an international contractor in own countries project...............12
History in gaining sustainability through International Contracts..........................................................14
Comparison of sustainability changes in developed and developing countries after being constructed
through international contractors...........................................................................................................15
Methods adopted by an international company to strive for sustainability level for the client’s project.
...............................................................................................................................................................17
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................19
Sustainable Construction in Australia....................................................................................................20
Sustainable Construction in India..........................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................22

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 3
Executive Summary
There is a need for embracing construction activities that will be of advantage to the society and
be of benefit to the natural processes taking in the community rather than causing negative
implications. Hence, the materials and procedures to be used in facilitating the construction
activities have to incline towards sustainability. Most of the local firms in different nations have
not been in a position to achieve sustainability citing lack of proper guidance. International firms
had to intervene in the situation and be a role model in the area. The international firms display
their working excellently and also carry out an awareness through several forums to the firms in
local client nations. Australia was one of the local clients to international firms. Their interest in
embracing sustainability was way better and only needed support to achieve the same
excellently. Through the paper the effects the firms had on the different projects in Australia
have been told. Despite the positivity associated with such firms, there was too a degree of
negativity. The paper outlines on both the advantages and disadvantages associated with the
international firms. Depending on the compliance of a nation, the sustainability levels will be
attained differently. The paper tells on the different levels of achieving sustainability for the
various countries.

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 4
Sustainability Through International Firms
Introduction
The environment is an essential aspect of the living of human beings. The effects that come as a
result of the environment will play a significant role in making the lives of human beings better
or worsening the prevailing situations (Seyhan Fırat, 2018, p. 556). The effects vary from one
condition to another and may either be direct or indirect. When individuals are affected, the
overall impact in the society will also be significant. The working displayed by many will be
affected, the result is a drop in the economic level of operation. Establishing order in the universe
calls for balancing all the areas in the universe (Wheatley, 2011, p. 234). An integrated approach
plays a significant role in achieving such a target by facilitating the creation of a win-win design
solution. Being objective ensures that any set activity gets to be achieved at the end of the day
despite how long it would take. Sustainable development has been championed to the present
day citing the need to cut down on the depletion of natural resources completely. Such resources
significantly contribute to making the working of human beings comfortable hence, their
reduction will lead to a rise in the degree of suffering among individuals. Energy facilitates most
of the manufacturing processes (Andrew Y. C. Nee, 2013, p. 114). Apart from that, most
machines rely on such power for their operation. Depletion of energy through the unstainable
way of lives will serve as the beginning of a fall in the economic levels of a particular nation.

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 5
Water is too one of the critical resources that have to be reserved. Water is known to many as the
source of life. It facilitates the growth of plants and the survival of animals in the universe.
Sustainable living ensures that the water table does not go very low. Apart from that, it provides
that the environment is conducive to ensure that regular rains sufficient for the different activities
are experienced. The result will be an established order being experienced in the society.
Buildings form the primary area where the resources are used (Enrico Sciubba, 2013, p. 576).
Sustainable construction will see to it that despite the use of such resources, the kind of
construction design that will be embraced will primarily focus in ensuring that a balance is
attained at the end of the day. During construction of buildings, the process will always lead to
generation of waste in the society (Carmen Llinares-Millán, 2014, p. 245). Apart from that, there
are occasions where occupants lack responsibility in dealing with the environment and dump
waste carelessly leading to sustainable lifestyles that come as a result of the structured buildings.
There is a need to come up with a lasting solution that will ensure maximum achievement of
sustainable living. Through international construction, several achievements are realized for
example, the inclusion of sustainable design concepts in the construction activities. Apart from
that, there will be a need for advocates to put in place in different stations globally that champion
for sustainable design. In most occasions, they will be seen encouraging members to retrofit
existing buildings rather than working to see that new buildings are brought up. Such practice
significantly contributed to the reduction of demolition practices that were seeing in the society
adding majorly to unsustainable forms of living.
How sustainability has been achieved in the world through
international construction
The international world works with the national governments in seeing to it that sustainable
living is achieved at the end of the day (Karen C. Seto, 2015, p. 423). The firms will work to see

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 6
that the national governments embrace better policies that will be used in facilitating sustainable
construction. There is a significant variation in climate in the various parts of the nation. The
variation in climatic conditions is wide and can be evidently seeing in the different parts of the
country. International construction has worked to see to it the local firms in the various nations
comply with the national set standards, that primarily target to achieve a zero-carbon level. The
set standards have to be adopted wholeheartedly by the local authorities as a way of ensuring that
embracing such standards starts from the shallow levels of working (John Bratton, 2017, p. 453).
In the previous days, some tests were carried out on the local authorities to justify the adoption of
such measures. However, such tests were only done once, and the previous working recovered.
Through international construction, there was a recommendation of the dropping of such tests
and each person needed to comply with the set standards fully not compromising any practice at
any time.
Planning forms the basis of any successful project that has to be undertaken in the society
(Manlio Del Giudice, 2016, p. 98). There is a need to set a strategic plan that will offer guidance
in the implementation of measures that will ensure sustainable construction measures relative to
a specific location have been achieved.
International construction has been at the forefront pushing for discussions regarding the kind of
construction design that has to be achieved (Alison Cotgrave, 2012, p. 257). The timing when the
debate is to take place is also of much importance in influencing the attention that will be
directed towards achieving sustainable construction. Previously such discussions were always
carried out at the final stages of planning leading to significant failures in attaining sustainable
construction. However, after the intervention of international construction firms, there have been
measures that promoted the early discussion, planning, and budgeting and led to the sustainable

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 7
designs being achieved at the early stages of planning. The result has been that there was well-
designed and constructed building being brought up in the society. The situation was also of
more significant advantage to many as there was a maximum minimization of cost in the
community.
Environmental agencies are of much importance in ensuring that sustainability has been achieved
in the society (John Bratton, 2017, p. 535). They have more significant interaction with the
society and more traditional roots with them; as a result, they are in a position to easily influence
the community to take part in sustainable forms of living. Through international construction,
and having them spread all over the globe, most of the environmental agencies were also
motivated in supporting the campaign. The relation led to the establishment of alternative
solutions of seeking water to facilitate construction activities in areas where lots of strain had to
be applied in seeking water to promote such activities.
Advantages of introducing international firms in a country for the increase of sustainability
Companies will always desire to see that they get to achieve most of their sales in the society and
be in a position to establish a brand that will attract customers from all over the nation.
Customers will love to promote companies that do not only produce goods and services in the
society but also work to see that the environment is maintained in the process of working. The
main reason is that most of them are mindful of the impact that is experienced in the society from
the company; as they would work to see that there is an alignment of personal values and the
brands bought in the society (Kornberger, 2010, p. 247). The international firms have most of
their roots spread all over the world. The introduction of such firms in particular nations for the
promotion of sustainability led to most other companies complying to the guidelines of working.
The values of most customers were inclined towards sustainability, and the construction

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 8
companies embracing such practices could be invited to handle different activities regarding the
customers (Willard, 2012, p. 213). Companies will love to be tendered most of the activities;
hence they worked by such rules to see that they get to achieve such targets through their
working.
Most organizations have a desire to rise to higher levels of operation. As a result, they will pay
close attention to the methods embraced by the model companies in achieving success through
the many years. The international companies have well-established brands and a section of
customers (Akkucuk, 2014, p. 456). The aim of most missions is always to achieve such a target
in the society. The sustainable business practices are some of the strategic moves that the
companies embrace in their working. The guiding principle of their operation is always to ensure
zero depriving of comfort in the environment as a result of unsustainable practices. The
introduction of such companies led to the growing companies to embrace the practices fully. The
result displayed after such a method was an increase in efficiency operations. The use of
resources rose to better levels in addition to the display of extraordinary conservation of them.
The gradual decreasing cost of maintenance and streamlined operations motivated them to
embrace the same working methods for more extended periods of time. The result was
sustainable practice being highly embraced.
The financial aspect is the primary factor that will define the growth to be displayed by a
company (Ahuja, 2018, p. 352). The well-wishers facilitating such financing activities are
significant stakeholders with the international companies operating in the entire globe. Apart
from that, they are highly concerned with analyzing the sustainability plans in the society
regarding the environment. Their introduction in the various nations led to the local companies
working by the stipulated guidelines as a way of attracting more financial support towards their

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 9
working. The result was that there was the flourishing of sustainability practices among the many
nations, attracting the different investment opportunities. The economic levels of operation got to
rise to a different degree (Ojo, Hershey, p. 235).
Differences between the local practices and international practices for achieving sustainability
The building codes are of much importance in dictating the kind of structure that has to be
adapted at a particular setting to ensure that sustainable development is achieved at the end of the
day (Suzanne Robertson, 2012, p. 478). The national government has been at the forefront in
ensuring that the different building codes are provided to the various construction companies to
facilitate proper working. However, in the past days, there have been lots of delays in giving
direction regarding the kind of codes that have to be adopted for a particular area. The result was
that on most occasions errors could occur that could lead to increased cost when there was a need
to make the necessary changes regarding the told errors. Hence, there was a need to pay much
attention to the local planning systems that could help in facilitating the codes at early stages.
Close working has been seeing between the different local governments and the design and
planning professionals (John Friend, 2013, p. 214). The governments offered help in advising the
design that has to be adopted to promote sustainability. Apart from that, the governments also
directed on the kind of plans that were to be adapted to guide on the building process.
Challenges are inevitable in working (Beverly Irby, 2013, p. 777). There are cases when the
process being used is faced with some insufficiencies leading to lack of efficiency in achieving
the planned tasks in the society. The final decision on the design and plan to be adopted will
serve as a significant factor in telling the future of an organization. Inconsistencies in decision-
making were the major challenge seeing in the process of achieving sustainability. Several

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 10
appeals of cases have been done to see that construction progresses citing different officials
giving contradicting information.
Under decision-making processes, the international construction firms have displayed a slightly
different method in approaching the same. Their working has helped in solving the confusion
that could arise through the working process in addition to cutting inconveniences that could be
experienced by the client as they handle their particular project. The high-level decisions are the
most impactful decision on the working that will be embraced (Boris Delibašić, 2015, p. 57). The
International firms have, therefore, ensured that the local companies get to work in touch with an
independent adviser who has attained high levels of professionalism in dealing with
sustainability in the society. Such advisers would advise on the method to be embraced through
the working in addition to working with the different environmental assessment agencies in the
society. The close working with such agencies greatly helps in giving the justification on why
some decisions were reached. The result is that there is a significant reduction in the
inconsistencies that were majorly seeing under the local practices to promote sustainability.
Apart from that, the environmental policies were not only kept with the central governing body.
The policies were distributed to all firms facilitating the different construction activities (Dirk
Fornahl, 2017, p. 267). The result is that they were familiar with their objectives and targets to be
achieved. Hence, the working was within such set targets and missions in the society.
Sustainability levels attained by Australia through international construction firms
International firms are known to operate significant contracts in the entire globe (Peter Boxall,
2015, p. 302). Their introduction in a particular nation can always create fear among the local
companies regarding some of the local projects being picked up and handled by international
companies. However, a positive view of such companies can always result in better working and

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 11
making the society better than its previous existence. There is a need for their system of working
to be embraced by the local companies as a way of boosting the local companies in raising their
degree of operation that they display in the society. Australia significantly embraced the
international companies. In the previous past, the Australian green industry was only
concentrated in very few locations within the nation. The single dwellings were the only
structures that were followed upon to see that they achieve sustainable construction. However,
the sharing of information between the international firms and the local companies led to the
attaining of skills on how sustainability can also be enforced on large projects (Addo-Tenkorang,
2016, p. 214). The needed procedures of working are stipulated and most local companies in the
present day handling the major projects have ensured high levels of sustainability. The local
authorities do also have a voice regarding such projects, the main reason being that they now
have a better understanding of the working that has to be displayed.
Guidelines are of much importance as a reference point for any form of working experienced in
society (David Boud, 2013, p. 123). The government is responsible for handling such kind of
guidelines. They will play a major role in seeing they are formed in the society in addition to
facilitating their implementation. Australia has been on the forefront in the formulating of such
guidelines. However, there has been a significant challenge in promoting the proper application
of the same. The coming of international firms in the nations has greatly helped to ensure that
proper stipulation of such guidelines is done (Onuf, 2012, p. 212). Apart from that, the
implementation measures are well stated allowing for the instructions to be followed to the latter.
The result is that sustainable construction firms were achieved in the entire nation.
Sustainability is desired to make the environment friendly not forgetting the lives of human
beings have also to be protected in such buildings. Hence, the buildings have to display

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FIRMS 12
environment-friendly features in addition to having high degree levels of performance. The
international firms have served as a great challenger to the Australian local firms. The firms pay
much consideration not only on the sustainability of the structure but also the safety and
performance level in varying conditions. The comfort experienced in the communities has also
gone higher. The economic level of a nation mainly depends on the productive nature of the
major cities. The locals have brought about significant revolutions, as there have been significant
changes in the degrees of production as a result of the transformation of structures; an effect that
was realized on the introduction of the international firms.
Disadvantages of giving the contract to an international contractor in own countries project
International construction firms are some of the well-established firms in the society (Stephanie
A. Fernhaber, 2014, p. 205). The firms are ranked best in offering some of the best services
citing the experience associated with the working. Apart from that, the kind of charges that a
client incurs from their service is low and they will focus more on offering quality service to the
society rather than sipping money from the similar society. The result is that most developing
nations having not well-developed firms will seek services from such firms. They will be
awarded some of the contracts in the nation so that they can influence the society in various ways
apart from only carrying out the construction activities. However, citing their being an
international firm, their cost of coming and ferrying the labor might lead to spending more if one
minor contract is awarded to them. Governments have always offered multiple contracts as a
way of ensuring that they achieve being economical (Mander, 2014, p. 101).
Despite the positive experiences they bring to the nation, the sourcing of services from such
companies may at times call for incurring extra charges that could not have been incurred while
sourcing a service from a local company. The companies have their set standards of working that