Exploring the relationship between materials procurement and waste minimization in the construction industry: the case of Egypt

Construction projects suffer from materials waste generated at different stages. This does not only lead to financial loss to construction companies but also lead to negative impacts on the environment. In Egypt, many megaprojects are currently being constructed as one of the main pillars of Egypt’s sustainable development strategy (SDS) 2030. This means that significant amount of construction materials are likely to be generated as waste during their execution. There is very limited research exploring waste minimization during the materials procurement stage. Ineffective materials procurement strategies can generate waste due to poor planning and management. For example, materials procurement contributes 11.12% of materials waste in the UK and contributes up to 50% towards total project cost. This paper examines the relationship between materials procurement and materials waste reduction in the construction industry to develop an effective materials procurement framework drawing on the specific challenges and experiences in Egypt