Construction Industry and Its Contributions to Achieving the SDGs Proposed by the UN: An Analysis of Sustainable Practices

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the perceptions of professionals in the construction sector operating in Brazil regarding the development of sustainability practices in the sector and their contributions to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To this end, a literature review was developed, a survey was conducted among industry professionals, and the collected data were treated using Cronbach’s alpha, hierarchical cluster analysis, and the TOPSIS multicriteria method. As a result, considering the generated ranking, the practices determining the promotion of a more sustainable construction sector were the encouragement and promotion of sustainability-focused events, education on sustainability, water treatment, and community project development. From the perspective of contributions to achieving the UN SDGs, greater alignment of sustainable practices with the established goals was highlighted in SDG 1, which seeks to eradicate poverty; SDG 4, which promotes inclusive education; SDG 6, referring to the importance of water treatment and access for all; SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to clean and affordable energy; SDG 9, which proposes the development of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure; SDG 11, which advocates for sustainable cities and communities; and SDG 12, which proposes the adoption of more sustainable production and consumption patterns. It is believed that this research represents the first exploratory study to consider sustainable practices in the civil construction sector, which are aligned with the sustainable development objectives proposed by the UN and consider the context of a country with an emerging economy from the perspective of professionals working in the sector.

1. Introduction

Currently, there are many discussions about the importance of considering sustainability in production processes and activities, as humanity faces various challenges related to environmental, social, and economic issues [1]. The growing world population and excessive consumption of natural resources are leading to climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource scarcity [2,3]. Therefore, considering sustainability becomes important in finding solutions to such problems, ensuring that present and future generations can enjoy a healthy and balanced environment while promoting sustainable and responsible socioeconomic development [4,5].

In this sense, the concept of sustainable development emerges, which refers to the ability to meet the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs [6,7,8]. This means that economic, social, and environmental development must be integrated in a balanced manner so that the pursuit of economic growth does not have negative impacts on the environment nor on people [9,10]. Sustainable development requires a holistic and collaborative approach, involving governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals, to ensure the creation of a more just, prosperous, and sustainable world for all [4].

In this context, it is worth highlighting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations (UN), which is a global initiative that seeks to guide countries toward sustainable and balanced development through a series of targets to be achieved by 2030 [11,12]. These goals cover various areas, such as poverty eradication, access to education, quality health care, gender equality, clean energy, and biodiversity preservation, among others [13]. The importance of SDGs lies in their ability to promote international cooperation and to implement sustainable policies and practices in all countries, contributing to a fairer and more balanced world [13,14]. Additionally, the SDGs can provide guidance for companies and organizations in developing sustainable and responsible business strategies [4,12].

Specifically, the construction sector plays a crucial role in sustainable development, as it is responsible for a significant portion of natural resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions [15,16,17]. However, the construction industry also offers a significant opportunity for promoting sustainability through more efficient and sustainable construction practices, such as the use of renewable and recycled materials, renewable energy systems, energy efficiency, and waste and emission reduction [18,19,20]. Moreover, the construction of sustainable buildings and infrastructure can contribute to improving people’s quality of life by promoting health and well-being and reducing social inequality [21,22]. For these reasons, promoting sustainability in the construction sector is both a challenge and an opportunity that should be considered by all stakeholders in the industry’s value chain [15].

Despite opportunities to promote sustainability in construction projects, there are significant challenges to the adoption of sustainable practices in this sector [21,23]. One of the main challenges is the lack of awareness of and incentives for sustainable practices among professionals and companies in the sector [18,22]. In addition, the adoption of sustainable practices may increase the initial project cost, which may discourage clients and investors. Another challenge is the lack of adequate regulation and enforcement to ensure compliance with sustainable standards in construction [24,25]. However, with increasing awareness of the importance of sustainability and the adoption of policies and incentives by governments, as well as demand from clients and investors for sustainable practices, research in this area is important for promoting the adoption of sustainable practices in the sector [16,26].

According to the presented context, this research was guided by the following questions: “How do professionals in the Brazilian construction sector perceive the importance of integrating sustainable practices in the sector?” and “What are the contributions of such practices to achieving Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the UN?” Analyzing the context of the construction sector in an emerging economy is important due to specific challenges, such as limited access to technology and infrastructure for sustainable practices [27,28,29]. Brazil has a large construction industry which faces significant environmental, social, and economic challenges, such as social inequality, scarcity of natural resources, a lack of basic sanitation, and a housing deficit [28]. Additionally, the construction sector is responsible for a significant portion of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the country. However, Brazil also has enormous potential for promoting sustainability in construction through the adoption of innovative technologies and practices, diversification of energy sources, and utilization of sustainable and recycled materials [30,31]. Therefore, it is important to analyze the Brazilian context of the construction sector in order to identify opportunities and challenges related to sustainability and to seek effective solutions for promoting sustainable development in the country.

Considering the research questions and the presented context, this study aimed to analyze the perception of professionals in the Brazilian construction sector regarding the development of sustainable practices in the sector and their contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the UN. To achieve this goal, a literature review was conducted, a survey was carried out, and the collected data were processed using Cronbach’s alpha calculation, hierarchical cluster analysis, and the TOPSIS method. This method was used in exploratory research with objectives in line with the present study, as can be seen in [32,33]. Further details on the research strategies are presented in the section on methodological procedures.

2. Background

For a better understanding of sustainable practices, [34,35,36] define sustainability as a participatory process that conceives and develops a sense of community that proposes the respect and prudent use of natural resources. Sustainable practices, on the other hand, are activities that promote the application of the main concepts of sustainability in practice.

According to [34,37,38,39], to monitor the implementation and evolution of sustainable practices in the construction sector, a series of guidelines are necessary to establish the steps to be followed, such as the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) [40]. The AQUA-HQE consists of an environmental assessment method derived from the French Haute Qualité Environmental (HQE), adapted by the Alberto Vanzolini Foundation for use in Brazil [41], and the Casa Azul Seal, developed by the Brazilian Caixa Econômica Federal Bank.

Several studies and methods have contributed to a better understanding and more effective implementation of sustainable practices throughout the phases of construction, including design, material procurement, transportation, execution, and maintenance during its lifetime, according to the characteristics and needs of each region. In this context, ref. [38] proposed an evaluation method of processes to make enterprises increasingly sustainable. In addition, ref. [39] analyzed the impacts that the construction sector can have on the environment, focusing on elements of the construction site, material, machinery, workers, and aspects of the workplace. The implementation of effective waste management practices in construction projects was examined in [42] in 74 Spanish construction companies, concluding that the most commonly implemented practices were site cleanliness and order, correct storage of raw materials, and prioritization of authorized waste managers. Finally, ref. [43] drew attention to the need to improve sustainability and working conditions on construction sites.

To make the construction sector more sustainable and to contribute to the achievement of the goals proposed by the UN for 2030, several companies, builders, and professionals in the field are already gradually adopting sustainable practices in their projects, offering their clients products with new materials; greater use of natural resources in areas such as lighting and water reuse; as well as greater comfort and durability of the current developments [44].

As sustainability is a long-term process and its financial return is not immediate, some companies and organizations still face barriers to its implementation. Therefore, it is necessary to invest more in marketing to promote those who are raising the sustainability flag and to help customers to perceive their difference. Among the main difficulties faced by the sector, ref. [42] mentions that, in terms of the goal of managing waste, the surveyed companies have suggested improvements such as standardizing disposal and treatment rates, reducing the time until waste management certificates are issued, increasing the number of inspections of transportation and waste management companies, and changing the current model of some large builders.

Discussing the difficulties and gaps in implementing sustainable practices in the construction industry, ref. [37] emphasizes that the sector has a dynamic environment, and several factors are essential for the consolidation of sustainable practices, such as considering the sustainability of the project during the design phase, planning the construction site, obtaining an action plan for the implementation of practices, hiring third-party services, and providing operational training to employees on the intended concepts. In ref. [38], the need for companies to adapt to modern construction processes and become truly sustainable economic activities as soon as possible was identified, and in [1,45], a significant discrepancy between the three pillars of sustainability, which are environmental, economic, and social, was observed, as social practices were found to be used less often by companies seeking sustainability.

Considering the presented context, the importance of incorporating sustainable practices into the construction industry is notable. Research in the field promotes the definition of strategies for measurement and for the concrete implementation of such actions.

Table 1. Sustainable practices identified in the literature.

Code	Sustainable Practices	References
	Environmental
PA_01	The use of water treatment	[46,47]
PA_02	Rainwater collection	[43,48]
PA_03	Optimization of water use	[49,50]
PA_04	Use of raw materials with a lower rate of aggression to the environment	[51,52]
PA_05	Restoration of deposits that provide raw material	[53]
PA_06	Reuse of or reduction in waste	[46,49,54]
PA_07	Waste for recycling	[46,54]
PA_08	Less paper usage	[55]
PA_09	Methods that reduce gas emissions	[56,57,58]
PA_10	Reforestation	[59,60]
PA_11	Planting seedlings on site	[61,62]
PA_12	Power generation by heat generation	[54,63]
PA_13	Use of solar energy	[64,65]
PA_14	Decontamination	[66]
	Social
PS_15	Promotion of social responsibility	[1,51]
PS_16	Projects with the community	[67,68]
PS_17	Waste for recycling (regarding social impact)	[46,54]
	Economic
PE_18	Reuse of or reduction in waste (in terms of economic impact)	[49]
PE_19	Waste for recycling (in terms of economic impact)	[46,54]
PE_20	Less paper usage (in terms of economic impact)	[55]
PE_21	Power generation by heat generation	[54,63]
PE_22	Restoration of deposits that provide raw materials	[53]
	Broad practices
PG_23	Education for sustainability	[47]
PG_24	Sustainability certifications/sustainable materials or awards	[69]
PG_25	Incentives and promotion of events focused on sustainability	[70,71]

presents a list of sustainable practices related to environmental, economic, and social issues that have been developed in the construction industry and discussed in the literature. These practices served as a basis for structuring the research questionnaire used in the survey, which was developed with the help of professionals from the construction industry sector operating in Brazil.

3. Methodological Procedures

This research was carried out through the execution of five well-defined stages, namely: (a) a literature review for the necessary theoretical foundation; (b) development of the research instrument (questionnaire); (c) survey development with professionals working in the field in Brazil; (d) treatment and validation of the collected data through Cronbach’s alpha calculation, hierarchical cluster analysis, and TOPSIS multicriteria method; and € development of associated discussions and conclusions. Figure 1 presents the research stages in a summarized form.

For Stage 1, the following scientific databases were consulted: MDPI, Emerald insights, Science Direct, and Scopus. The search terms used were “Sustainable practices”, “Environmental practices”, “Sustainability in the construction sector”, and “Sustainable development in the construction sector”. These terms were also combined using the “AND” function in the searches of each scientific database. The references which were found served as a basis for the development of the research context presented in the introductory section, as well as in the background section.

Stage 2 consisted of structuring and developing the questionnaire to be used with professionals in the Brazilian construction sector. The instrument was structured based on the sustainable practices addressed in the research of the authors presented in Table 1. In total, 25 sustainability practices were considered in this analysis. Each sustainable practice was configured as an item in the questionnaire, and each one was analyzed by professionals on an evolutionary scale from 0 to 10, where a score of 0 meant that the practice was not decisive for promoting a more sustainable construction sector, and a score of 10 meant that the analyzed practice was extremely decisive for promoting a more sustainable construction sector. Intermediate scores could be freely assigned according to each participant’s perception of the survey.

In stage 3, a survey was carried out with professionals working in the civil construction sector in Brazil. The questionnaire was sent to professionals via e-mail, and a period of 30 days was provided for responses. It was sent to a total of 510 professionals and 87 responses were obtained, resulting in a return rate of 17.05%. The criteria to participate as respondents included professionals from the civil construction sector, consultants, professors, and researchers in the field of civil construction management working in Brazil. As for their position, 26% of respondents were directors, 42% were managers and coordinators, 14% were analysts and supervisors, 10% were professors, and 8% were consultants. As for training, 36% had only an undergraduate degree, 42% had a specialization or MBA in the area, and 22% had a master’s degree and/or a doctorate in the area. As for the duration of experience, 65.5% had up to 10 years of experience in the area, 26.43% had between 10 and 20 years of experience, and 8.07% had more than 20 years of experience.

Then, Stage 4 was developed, which consisted of processing the collected data. Initially, Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to verify the reliability of the questionnaire which was used. For this purpose, the recommendations proposed by [72] were followed, resulting in a value of 0.9 and, thus, demonstrating the reliability of the research instrument. Subsequently, the respondents were grouped via hierarchical cluster analysis, considering their similarities in terms of duration of experience, position held, and academic education. For each of the mentioned categories, a weight of 1, 2, or 3 was assigned according to the details presented in

Table 2. Distribution of weights by considered category.

Length of Experience	Position Held	Academic Education
1 = up to 10 years	1 = analyzes/supervisor	1 = Graduate
2 = between 10 and 20 years	2 = manager/coordinator/consultant	2 = Specialization/MBA
3 = Over 20 years old	3 = Director/Professor	3 = Master’s/Doctorate

.

The hierarchical cluster analysis followed the guidelines of [73,74] using the Ward method, by which the minimum increase of variance between groups is evaluated by analyzing the means of the variables in each group. After this step, the clusters that allowed for the best classification, considering the most appropriate number of groups for the analysis, were identified. The results were visually represented using a dendrogram, which graphically displayed the hierarchy of the groups. Then, the groups were analyzed according to their characteristics. The calculations were performed using SPSS 22 software, considering the following parameters: classification, hierarchical clustering, dendrogram, clustering method, Ward, Euclidean distance, Z-score standardization, cluster analysis by case, and a cut-off point for defining groups at a combined distance of 5. Five groups were generated, and the details of each are presented in the results section.

After generating the groups of respondents, the TOPSIS multicriteria method was used to generate a ranking of the sustainability practices considered in this study. The TOPSIS method is suitable for exploratory studies that aim to generate rankings in order to expand debates in the context to be analyzed. Examples of applications of the TOPSIS method in exploratory research can be found in [75,76,77].

Data analysis began with an average attributed by the groups of respondents, and the TOPSIS method was used based on the guidelines proposed by [78]. The authors reinforce that TOPSIS allows for the ranking of alternatives considering different analysis criteria. Different weights were assigned to the groups and, consequently, the degrees of importance were varied, enhancing the reasoning and efficiency of decision making. Weights were attributed to each of the groups of respondents considering their characterization according to the criteria presented in Table 2. Thus, a weight of 0.20 were assigned to Group 1; 0.25 to Group 2; 0.10 to Group 3; 0.10 for Group 4; and 0.35 for Group 5. Details of the characterization of each respondent are presented in

Table 3. Weights were assigned to each respondent.

Respondent	Length of Experience	Position Held	Academic Education
R1	1	3	3
R2	1	2	1
…	…	…	…
R87	1	2	2

, in the results section.

Once a weight was established for each group of participants, the development of the seven steps of comparative ordering via TOPSIS began, as outlined in

Table 4. Steps of the TOPSIS technique.

Matrix 1	$\mathrm{D}=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}{x}_{11}& x_{12}& \dots & x_{1n}\\ x_{21}& x_{22}& \dots & x_{2n}\\ \dots & \dots & \dots & \dots \\ x_{m1}& x_{m2}& \dots & x_{mn}\end{array}\right]$	Matrix 3	$\mathrm{V}=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}{v}_{11}& v_{12}& \dots & v_{1n}\\ v_{21}& v_{22}& \dots & v_{2n}\\ \dots & \dots & \dots & \dots \\ v_{m1}& v_{m2}& \dots & v_{mn}\end{array}\right]$
Equation (1)	$r_{ij}=x_{ij}/\sqrt{{{\displaystyle \sum }}_{i=1}^n{x}_{ij}^2}$	Equation (3)	$s_i^{*}={\left[{\displaystyle \sum }_j{\left(v_{ij}^{*}-v_j^{+}\right)}^2\right]}^{\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.}$
Matrix 2	$\mathrm{R}=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}{r}_{11}& r_{12}& \dots & r_{1n}\\ r_{21}& r_{22}& \dots & r_{2n}\\ \dots & \dots & \dots & \dots \\ r_{m1}& r_{m2}& \dots & r_{mn}\end{array}\right]$	Equation (4)	$s_i^{\prime }={\left[{\displaystyle \sum }_j{\left(v_{ij}^{\prime }-v_j^{-}\right)}^2\right]}^{\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.}$
Equation (2)	$v_{ij}=w_j{r}_{ij}$	Equation (5)	$c_i^{*}=\frac{s_i^{\prime }}{\left(s_i^{*}+s_i^{\prime }\right)}$

. The first step involves constructing a matrix D with elements (xij), where (i) refers to the alternatives and (j) refers to the analysis criteria. In this study, the alternatives were the 25 sustainability practices presented in Table 1, and the criteria corresponded to the averages assigned by each group of respondents. The mathematical representation of matrix D can be found in matrix 1 of Table 4. The second step involved normalizing matrix D using Equation (1), which resulted in a matrix called matrix R, as shown in Equation (3). Equations (1)–(3) are presented in Table 4.

Next, the values of the R matrix were weighted using Equation (2) to obtain the V matrix. Then, the positive (vj+) and negative (vj−) ideal solutions were determined. The positive (vj+) and negative (vj−) ideal solutions represented the maximum and minimum values, respectively, in the V matrix for each analysis criterion. Subsequently, the positive and negative Euclidean distances for each alternative were calculated using Equations (3) and (4), as shown in Table 4. Finally, using the values of the Euclidean distances, the Ci* indicator was calculated and used to rank the 25 sustainability practices analyzed by the professionals in the study. It is important to note that the values of the Ci* indicator must fall between 0 and 1. The calculation of the Ci* indicator was performed using Equation (5), which is also presented in Table 4.

4. Findings and Associated Debates

This section presents the results of the hierarchical cluster analysis, the application of the TOPSIS method, and the associated debates and contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the UN.

4.1. Hierarchical Analysis of Clusters

According to the information obtained in the survey carried out on the professionals, it was possible to characterize each of the 87 respondents that made up the sample of this study. We considered the duration of experience in the construction industry, the position held, and the academic training completed, assigning weights according to Table 2, which is presented in the methodological procedures section. Table 3 summarizes this step, including the characterization of the respondents.

Figure 2 shows the dendrogram obtained through the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and the five identified groups. It should be noted that although the analysis demonstrates three groups of respondents, in order to achieve better alignment in the treatment of the data, five groups were considered, since this was an exploratory study aimed at expanding the debates in the area.

The dendrogram in Figure 2 shows a cut line (defined as 10), referring to the scaled distance used in the analysis. Five groups were identified and weighted according to the characteristics of each respondent, considering the duration of experience in the area, the position held, and the academic training completed. The weightings are related to the probability that the respondents would be more able to evaluate the context considered in the study.

The group that received the highest weight was Group 5, since the respondents were received the best weights in two or three of the criteria considered in the analysis. The weight attributed to this group was 0.35. The group with the second-highest weight was Group 2; all respondents in this group were characterized by a weight of three in at least one of the considered criteria, and for this group, a weight of 0.25 was assigned. The intermediate group was Group 1, in which most respondents were characterized by a weight of two in at least two of the considered criteria; this group received a weight of 0.20. Both Group 3 and Group 4 received weights of 0.10. These groups are characterized by their respondents having little experience in the area, the vast majority occupying initial and intermediate positions in companies, such as analysts, coordinators, and supervisors, and with a considerable number of professionals with only an undergraduate degree to represent their training.

Once the groups were identified and their respective weights were assigned, it was possible to begin to rank the sustainability practices considered in the research. To this end, the TOPSIS technique was used as described below.

4.2. Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)

First,

Table 5. Average of each group for each of the sustainability practices.

Practices	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4	Group 5
PA_01	7.250	9.250	8.000	9.250	8.071
PA_02	6.650	8.625	7.087	8.250	7.929
PA_03	6.800	8.500	6.913	8.375	8.107
PA_04	6.850	8.500	6.565	8.500	7.143
PA_05	7.050	8.125	6.348	7.500	7.143
PA_06	7.750	8.125	7.652	8.250	7.321
PA_07	7.650	8.125	7.348	8.125	7.679
PA_08	7.350	7.250	7.478	7.000	7.536
PA_09	6.600	7.625	6.913	8.375	7.571
PA_10	7.700	8.000	7.913	8.750	7.714
PA_11	7.400	8.500	7.217	7.625	7.536
PA_12	6.800	8.250	6.783	7.250	6.857
PA_13	7.900	8.500	6.870	8.125	7.214
PA_14	8.050	9.125	8.217	7.500	7.786
PS_15	7.550	7.250	7.304	8.625	8.250
PS_16	8.100	8.250	8.304	7.750	8.143
PS_17	7.600	8.250	7.391	8.000	7.536
PE_18	6.650	8.000	6.652	7.625	6.679
PE_19	7.500	8.750	7.304	7.750	7.643
PE_20	7.900	7.500	8.087	8.250	8.179
PE_21	7.550	8.750	7.348	6.125	7.571
PE_22	7.100	8.500	7.087	6.875	7.929
PG_23	8.100	8.500	9.000	9.500	8.000
PG_24	7.350	9.125	7.304	8.500	7.679
PG_25	8.750	8.875	9.043	8.500	8.929

presents the averages attributed by the groups of professionals to each of the twenty-five sustainability practices considered in the study and presented in Table 1.

Analyzing the averages obtained through the responses of the professionals in Group 5 (with the heaviest weight), based on a scale from zero to ten, it can be seen that the practices that received the highest averages and, therefore, were considered the most relevant for this group were: “Incentive and promotion of events focused on sustainability”, with an average of 8.9, and “Promotion of Social Responsibility”, with an average of 8.2. In contrast, the sustainable practices that received the lowest averages in this group of respondents were: “Waste reuse or reduction (in terms of economic impact)”, with an average of 6.6, and “Energy generation by heat generation”, with an average of 6.8. In general, by analyzing the averages of the 25 sustainability practices, it became clear that this group of professionals considered the insertion and development of sustainability practices in the civil construction sector to be important, since the vast majority of the practices received averages greater than seven.

To improve the detailing and the robustness of the analyses obtained using averages, the starting point was the ranking of sustainability practices via the TOPSIS method, since this technique weighed the perceptions of each group according to their respective weights. It is noteworthy that the collected data were divided into five different groups, as previously presented in the hierarchical analysis of clusters. Based on the averages presented in Table 5, the values were normalized using Equation (2), which was presented in Table 4, resulting in matrix R, which was presented in

Table 6. R matrix with normalized values.

Practices	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4	Group 5
PA_01	0.194	0.222	0.214	0.230	0.210
PA_02	0.178	0.207	0.190	0.205	0.206
PA_03	0.182	0.204	0.185	0.208	0.211
PA_04	0.184	0.204	0.176	0.211	0.186
PA_05	0.189	0.195	0.170	0.186	0.186
PA_06	0.208	0.195	0.205	0.205	0.190
PA_07	0.205	0.195	0.197	0.202	0.199
PA_08	0.197	0.174	0.200	0.174	0.196
PA_09	0.177	0.183	0.185	0.208	0.197
PA_10	0.207	0.192	0.212	0.217	0.200
PA_11	0.198	0.204	0.193	0.189	0.196
PA_12	0.182	0.198	0.181	0.180	0.178
PA_13	0.212	0.204	0.184	0.202	0.187
PA_14	0.216	0.219	0.220	0.186	0.202
PS_15	0.202	0.174	0.195	0.214	0.214
PS_16	0.217	0.198	0.222	0.193	0.211
PS_17	0.204	0.198	0.198	0.199	0.196
PE_18	0.178	0.192	0.178	0.189	0.173
PE_19	0.201	0.210	0.195	0.193	0.199
PE_20	0.212	0.180	0.216	0.205	0.212
PE_21	0.202	0.210	0.197	0.152	0.197
PE_22	0.190	0.204	0.190	0.171	0.206
PG_23	0.217	0.204	0.241	0.236	0.208
PG_24	0.197	0.219	0.195	0.211	0.199
PG_25	0.235	0.213	0.242	0.211	0.232

.

Subsequently, the weights assigned to each of the groups of respondents were considered and, using this procedure, it was possible to obtain matrix V, as shown in

Table 7. Matrix V, with the weights considered.

Practices	rijG1 × 0.20	rijG2 × 0.25	rijG3 × 0.10	rijG4 × 0.10	rijG5 × 0.35
PA_01	0.039	0.055	0.021	0.023	0.073
PA_02	0.036	0.052	0.019	0.021	0.072
PA_03	0.036	0.051	0.018	0.021	0.074
PA_04	0.037	0.051	0.018	0.021	0.065
PA_05	0.038	0.049	0.017	0.019	0.065
PA_06	0.042	0.049	0.020	0.021	0.067
PA_07	0.041	0.049	0.020	0.020	0.070
PA_08	0.039	0.043	0.020	0.017	0.069
PA_09	0.035	0.046	0.018	0.021	0.069
PA_10	0.041	0.048	0.021	0.022	0.070
PA_11	0.040	0.051	0.019	0.019	0.069
PA_12	0.036	0.049	0.018	0.018	0.062
PA_13	0.042	0.051	0.018	0.020	0.066
PA_14	0.043	0.055	0.022	0.019	0.071
PS_15	0.040	0.043	0.020	0.021	0.075
PS_16	0.043	0.049	0.022	0.019	0.074
PS_17	0.041	0.049	0.020	0.020	0.069
PE_18	0.036	0.048	0.018	0.019	0.061
PE_19	0.040	0.052	0.020	0.019	0.069
PE_20	0.042	0.045	0.022	0.021	0.074
PE_21	0.040	0.052	0.020	0.015	0.069
PE_22	0.038	0.051	0.019	0.017	0.072
PG_23	0.043	0.051	0.024	0.024	0.073
PG_24	0.039	0.055	0.020	0.021	0.070
PG_25	0.047	0.053	0.024	0.021	0.081

.

Table 8. Positive and negative ideal solutions.

Criterion	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4	Group 5
Positive ideal solution (vj+)	0.05	0.06	0.02	0.02	0.08
Negative ideal solution (vj−)	0.04	0.04	0.02	0.02	0.06

displays the positive and negative ideal solutions, which are essential for calculating the values in

Table 9. Euclidean distances from the positive and negative ideal solutions, the coefficient Ci*.

Practices	Euclidean Distances from the Positive Ideal Solution	Euclidean Distances from the Negative Ideal Solution	Coefficient (Ci*)
PA_01	0.012	0.020	0.633
PA_02	0.016	0.015	0.484
PA_03	0.015	0.016	0.517
PA_04	0.021	0.011	0.335
PA_05	0.022	0.008	0.268
PA_06	0.018	0.012	0.401
PA_07	0.016	0.013	0.459
PA_08	0.020	0.010	0.318
PA_09	0.021	0.010	0.333
PA_10	0.015	0.014	0.489
PA_11	0.017	0.012	0.427
PA_12	0.024	0.007	0.227
PA_13	0.018	0.012	0.407
PA_14	0.012	0.018	0.594
PS_15	0.016	0.017	0.512
PS_16	0.011	0.018	0.619
PS_17	0.016	0.012	0.432
PE_18	0.026	0.006	0.186
PE_19	0.015	0.014	0.484
PE_20	0.014	0.017	0.549
PE_21	0.017	0.013	0.439
PE_22	0.016	0.014	0.471
PG_23	0.010	0.020	0.659
PG_24	0.015	0.016	0.527
PG_25	0.003	0.027	0.890

representing the Euclidean distances from the positive and negative ideal solutions. Through Equation (5), shown in Table 4 of this article, the Ci* coefficient was calculated, enabling the ranking of the sustainability practices presented in

Table 10. Ranking of sustainability practices.

Position	(Ci*)	Code	Sustainable Practices
1º	0.890	PG_25	Incentives and promotion of events focused on sustainability
2º	0.659	PG_23	Education on sustainability
3º	0.633	PA_01	The use of water treatment
4º	0.619	PS_16	Projects with the community
5º	0.594	PA_14	Decontamination
6º	0.549	PE_20	Less paper usage (in terms of economic impact)
7º	0.527	PG_24	Sustainable certification/sustainable materials or awards
8º	0.517	PA_03	Optimization of water use
9º	0.512	PS_15	Promotion of social responsibility
10º	0.489	PA_10	Reforestation
11º	0.484	PE_19	Waste for recycling (in terms of economic impact)
12º	0.484	PA_02	Rainwater collection
13º	0.471	PE_22	Restoration of deposits providing raw material
14º	0.459	PA_07	Waste for recycling
15º	0.439	PE_21	Power generation through heat generation
16º	0.432	PS_17	Waste for recycling (regarding social impact)
17º	0.427	PA_11	Planting seedlings on site
18º	0.407	PA_13	Use of solar energy
19º	0.401	PA_06	Reuse of or reduction in waste
20º	0.335	PA_04	Use of raw materials with a lower rate of aggression to the environment
21º	0.333	PA_09	Methods that reduce gas emissions
22º	0.318	PA_08	Less paper usage
23º	0.268	PA_05	Restoration of deposits providing raw material
24º	0.227	PA_12	Power generation by heat generation
25º	0.186	PE_18	Reuse of or reduction in waste (in terms of economic impact)

.

Table 9 represents the Euclidean distances of the positive and negative ideal solutions. Such an identification was necessary for the calculation of the TOPSIS ordering coefficient.

Finally, the obtained Ci* coefficient values were ranked. There was a comparative ordering of the sustainability practices considered in this study and analyzed by professionals working in the field in Brazil, showing which were the most relevant and decisive for the promotion of a more sustainable civil construction sector. Table 10 presents the results of that ranking.

4.3. Associated Debates

Once the results were presented, discussions and debates associated with them followed. By analyzing the means assigned by each group of respondents, it was possible to perceive convergence in the opinions of the groups regarding the importance of the insertion and development of sustainable practices in the construction sector. Considering the ranking of sustainable practices (Table 10), which was generated from the data obtained through a survey of professionals operating in this sector in Brazil, it was possible to see that, in their opinion, the most determining practices for promoting a more sustainable construction sector were “Incentives and promotion of events focused on sustainability”, “Education for Sustainability”, “Water treatment utilization”, and “Community projects”.

As for encouraging and promoting events focused on sustainability, it is worth noting that the development of such a practice is important to help raise awareness among people involved in achieving sustainable goals, as well as to consolidate our understanding of the importance of adopting sustainable practices in various operations, processes, and activities, which can lead to a change in behavior in the long term. In addition, such events can demonstrate sustainable practices objectively using examples of practical application, thus helping to disseminate the importance of such actions among the sectors of a given company. Finally, by promoting sustainability events, companies and organizations can improve their images and reputations with their customers and society in general, in addition to contributing to the resolution of environmental, social, and economic issues [70,71,79].

Concerning the promotion of education regarding sustainability, it is worth noting that such a practice among employees of a company is important because it can lead to a change in the organizational culture and an awareness of the benefits of including sustainable practices in the work environment. By educating employees about environmental, social, and economic issues, the organization can encourage positive changes in behavior and encourage the adoption of more sustainable practices in the development of its processes, which can result in a reduction in the environmental impact and contribute to the construction of a more balanced future of the sector in which the company operates. In addition, companies that promote sustainability education among their employees tend to attract and retain talent committed to sustainability [4,33,47].

Water treatment represents an important sustainability practice in the construction sector because it is a limited natural resource, and its use must be conscious and responsible in all stages of a given construction project. Moreover, untreated water may contain impurities such as sediment, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals, which can compromise the quality of construction, affecting the durability and safety of buildings. Therefore, appropriate water treatment in construction ensures the sustainability, quality, and safety of construction projects while also contributing to the preservation of the environment [46,47].

Finally, it is worth mentioning the importance of developing projects with the community, as such a practice can guarantee benefits for both parties involved in terms of social issues related to sustainability. The civil construction sector significantly impacts people’s lives and the environment. Thus, it is important that organizations in the sector have dialogue with the community, identifying their demands and needs and establishing partnerships to develop projects that promote social and environmental well-being. In addition, community participation in projects can generate greater engagement and collaboration between parties, strengthening their trust in and commitment to sustainable development. In this way, the civil construction sector can contribute to the development of the community and, at the same time, obtain benefits such as the strengthening of its image regarding its contributions to the achievement of sustainable goals [67,68].

It is worth mentioning that this is an exploratory study, and that the sustainable practices that did not occupy the top positions in the ranking generated in this study cannot be considered less important. However, in the opinion of the professionals who made up the sample of this study, such practices are less decisive for the promotion of a more sustainable civil construction sector. It should be noted that the sample was composed of professionals working in the Brazilian context, that is, professionals who have experience with and knowledge of the specificities of the civil construction sector in a country with an emerging economy.

4.4. Contributions to the Achievement of the UN SDGs

The civil construction sector has played an important role in contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the UN. Among the main objectives related to civil construction are SDG 7, which seeks to guarantee access to clean and affordable energy; SDG 9, which proposes the development of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure; and SDG 11, which advocates for sustainability in cities and communities. For this purpose, civil construction has invested in sustainable solutions, such as the use of more efficient construction materials, the application of sustainable construction techniques, the use of renewable energy, the reuse of water, and the development of projects that prioritize public transport and urban mobility, among other initiatives. In this way, the civil construction sector has been committed to sustainable development, seeking to combine economic progress with environmental protection and the promotion of social well-being.

Considering the results achieved in this study, which considered the views of professionals in the civil construction sector working in the Brazilian context, it can be noted that the use of incentives and promotion of events related to sustainability contributes, in general, to the achievement of goals. Seventeen SDGs were proposed by the UN. These goals, for the most part, aim to raise awareness of global socio-environmental challenges in society and to promote actions aimed at environmental conservation and the development of social well-being. In this way, they can stimulate reflection and awareness regarding the impacts of the current development model and the importance of adopting more sustainable practices. In addition, these events can function as spaces for the dissemination of sustainable solutions and technologies, as well as for the promotion of dialogue between different actors in society. In this way, they can contribute to the engagement of individuals, companies, and governments in favor of sustainable development, stimulating the implementation of actions that seek to combine economic progress, environmental preservation, and social justice.

Considering the practice of education on sustainability, which ranked second in this study, one can see its alignment with SDG 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and quality education, and also with SDG 12, which proposes the adoption of more sustainable production and consumption patterns. In addition, it is believed that education can act as a transforming agent, stimulating the development of sustainable solutions and technologies, as well as the engagement of society in favor of sustainable development. Therefore, education on sustainability is directly related to the SDGs proposed by the UN, being an important practice for promoting changes in line with sustainability guidelines.

Regarding the practice of water treatment in the civil construction sector, it can be seen that this is an important area in which to take action to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs proposed by the UN. The civil construction sector consumes large amounts of water, whether for the manufacture of building materials or for carrying out the works themselves. With water treatment, it is possible to reuse the water used in construction and to reduce the amount of water taken from natural springs, thus contributing to the preservation of these water resources. In addition, water treatment can reduce the environmental impacts generated by civil construction, such as river pollution and soil contamination. Thus, this practice is an action that directly contributes to SDG 6, referring to the importance of water treatment and access for all, in addition to being aligned with other sustainable development goals, such as that of SDG 12, which proposes the adoption of more sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Finally, the development of projects along with communities is an important practice for achieving the SDGs proposed by the UN, as such projects can act in different areas, such as health, education, and environment, among others, aiming to promote the active participation of the population in the search for solutions that promote sustainable development. In addition, these projects can contribute to society’s engagement with the SDGs, encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices and the construction of a fairer and more equitable future. In this way, the development of projects along with communities is directly related to several SDGs, such as SDG 1, which seeks to eradicate poverty and promote social inclusion, and SDG 11, which proposes that cities be made more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Therefore, the development of projects along with communities is an important strategy for achieving the SDGs, promoting actions aimed at ensuring the achievement of environmental, social, and economic goals.

5. Conclusions

Considering the results of this research, we conclude that the proposed objective of this study was achieved. It was possible to analyze the perception attributed by professionals working in the civil construction sector in Brazil regarding the development of sustainable practices in the sector and their contributions to achieving the SDGs proposed by the UN. In general, there have been diverse sustainable environmental, economic, and social practices developed in the civil construction sector. Considering the generated ranking, the most important practices for promoting a more sustainable civil construction sector were incentives for and promotion of events focused on sustainability, education on sustainability, water treatment, and the development of projects within the community.

Regarding the SDGs proposed by the UN, we conclude that the aforementioned practices that have been developed in the civil construction sector contribute positively, in general, to the achievement of the SDGs. In this sense, contributions have been made to the development of such practices for the achievement of SDG 1, which seeks to eradicate poverty and promote social inclusion; SDG 4, which seeks to guarantee inclusive and quality education; SDG 6, referring to the importance of treatment of and access to water for all; SDG 7, which seeks to guarantee access to clean and affordable energy; SDG 9, which proposes the development of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure; SDG 11, which advocates for sustainability in cities and communities; and SDG 12, which proposes the adoption of more sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Concerning the contributions of this research to our theory, it can be said that the analyses, insights, and results which were achieved can serve as a basis for researchers to expand debates in the area of sustainability in the civil construction sector. These included, for example, greater detail of the importance of developing and inserting sustainable practices in the sector more forcefully, mainly considering the context of countries with emerging economies, as is the case of Brazil, which was considered in this study. From a practical point of view, the results can serve as a basis to support the actions, decision making, and strategic planning of professionals in the civil construction sector who are involved with the management of activities and processes and who aim to promote more sustainable production systems.

Regarding the limitations of the research, it is important to emphasize that this is an exploratory study and that, therefore, the results achieved and presented herein cannot be generalized to contexts different from those highlighted in this research.

Finally, as a proposal for future research based on the results achieved, it is suggested that:

(a)

the development of a set of guidelines to enhance the growth of sustainability practices in companies in the civil construction sector, aligned with the SDGs proposed by the UN;

(b)

the development of a roadmap to systematically ensure, considering environmental, economic, and social aspects, the insertion of sustainable practices at all organizational levels of companies in the civil construction sector;

(c)

the definition of a set of strategic indicators to measure the degree of importance of the development of sustainable guidelines in organizations of the civil construction sector, considering the environmental, economic, and social aspects.