BENEFITS OF ADOPTING SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES BY CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES: DEVELOPING COUNTRY’S PERSPECTIVE

. In today’s world, sustainability practices are critical to every industry including the construction sector. This has come into being because of the pressure exerted on organisations and their supply chains by different stakeholders who demand ethically produced goods and services as well as responsible service delivery methods. The purpose of this research was to assess the relationship between sustainability practices and the benefits that sustainability offers organisations. This study employed cross-sectional descriptive design with a quantitative approach. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions from 67 respondents who were purposively sampled from building construction companies registered with the National Council for Construction (NCC) in grades 1 to 4 and operating in the Copperbelt province of Zambia. These included senior management employees involved in various projects. The collected data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis. The findings revealed that economic sustainability practices had a significant influence on delivering sustainability benefits, whereas social and environmental sustainability practices had no significant influence on delivering sustainability benefits. The research further revealed that the period a company was in operation significantly contributed to its ability to realise sustainability benefits, and to the contrary, that awareness and stakeholder participation did not. The researcher thus recommended that companies in the construction sector should develop and implement sustainability policies in order to meet the expectations of several stakeholders and secure long-term competitive advantage.


INTRODUCTION
The construction sector is one of the most resource-intensive and polluting industries (Ametepey et al., 2015).As a result, it has a great deal of responsibility for promoting sustainability (El-Sayegh et al., 2018).With the growing need for resource efficiency and climate change adaptation in the building business, contractors must incorporate sustainable methods such as the use of recyclable material, environmental preservation and energy-serving techniques (Tan et al., 2011).Such action will also provide a competitive edge due to the benefits gained, such as environmental preservation, cost reduction, reputation capital, and reduced construction waste (Al-Hajj & Hamani, 2011).Existing research indicated that construction activity has a considerable environmental impact (Tan et al., 2011).Contractors play a vital role in fostering sustainable development in the construction sector by accepting responsibility for minimising their negative influence on the environment and society while maximising their economic contribution.However, limited studies have been conducted to investigate the role of sustainability measures and the benefits that can be realised (Sichali & Banda, 2017).
In Zambia, the concept of sustainability, particularly in the construction industry, is still in its infancy (Zulu et al., 2022).Nevertheless, its newness in the context of sustainable construction projects mainly presents opportunities for research in terms of contributing to understanding the key benefits of sustainability practices.This, therefore, makes this industry an essential candidate for examining sustainability practices and the environmental, social and economic benefits of such practices from the local contractors.Furthermore, notwithstanding numerous studies dedicated to the sustainability concept and implementation globally, the practical benefits of sustainable practices in construction from the contractors' perspective are still insufficiently explored.The study extends limited studies (El-Sayegh et al., 2018) that focus on the risks and benefits of sustainable construction.In addition, despite the evident costs associated with sustainability, most contractors are not aware of the benefits (Martens & Carvalho, 2017).While limited related studies have been done in other parts of the world, there are limited studies in Zambia; therefore, this research fills the existing contextual gap by using evidence from the Copperbelt Province.

SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPT
Generally, the concept of sustainability is gaining traction among many stakeholders, and it is one of the most serious challenges of our time and in the near future.In many commercial activities, the aim to balance social, environmental, and economic considerations has taken centre stage (Liu et al., 2020).However, sustainability is a highly contentious topic that is interpreted differently by different stakeholders across the globe depending on their vested interests.Scholars have approved the subject from different angles to examine its influence on the construction sector.For example, Liu et al. (2020) investigated sustainability in the construction industry from a competitive advantage perspective.The study argues

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_________________________________________________________________________________2024 /12 57 that sustainability practices enhance energy savings, efficiency and general environmental improvement (Liu et al., 2020).Furthermore, Tan, Shen and Yao (2011) reiterate in their study that sustainability practices have a significant effect on the competitiveness of the organisation.
The key aspect of sustainability worth highlighting is the work of the Brundtland Commission, which defines sustainability at the international level in terms of sustainable development (Henriques & Richardson, 2012).Sustainability entails development that meets the requirements of the present without jeopardising future generations' ability to satisfy their own needs through the triple-bottom approach of environmental, social and economic performance (Henriques & Richardson, 2012).The construction industry, however, has focused so much on environmental sustainability because the industry generates 35 % of the total greenhouse gas emissions and 33 % of all waste (Liu et al., 2020).In a related study, Shan et al. (2017) argue from a global review of sustainable construction project financing, policies, practices, and research efforts that despite the increasing investment in sustainable development over the past decade, a systematic review of sustainable construction project financing is lacking.
Furthermore, Schmidt and Osebold (2017) acknowledged that whilst sustainability practices improve the operational aspect of construction, most of the research work currently focuses on selecting materials and improvements in the operating phase of buildings.The ecological process beyond finished products in the construction industry still needs to be considered.Overall, sustainability entails paying close attention to actions that influence the environment.The Brundtland Report at UN World Conference on Environment and Development in 1987 defined sustainability as the 'development that meets the needs of the present without jeopardising future generations' ability to meet their own needs' (Henriques & Richardson, 2012, p. 24).The concept appears to have succeeded in articulating a sustainability philosophy in a language accessible to corporations and their shareholders.It has been widely accepted that the three pillars of sustainability include environmental, social and economic pillars (Ojo et al., 2015).

Economic aspect
Economic sustainability, particularly in construction, is also receiving increased attention.For example, Tan et al. (2011) argued that improvement in sustainable construction contributes to business competitiveness.In addition, Shan et al. (2017) support the foregoing that investment in sustainable practices minimises risks and enhances organisational competitiveness.However, this argument is contested in some studies, which lament that sustainable construction is more costly and difficult to implement.For example, Ametepey et al. (2015) in their study of barriers to the successful implementation of sustainable construction in the Ghanaian construction industry, listed financial barriers first, followed by political barriers, leadership, technical, social and awareness about sustainability benefits.Similarly, Zulu et al. (2022), in examining drivers and barriers to sustainability practices in the Zambian context, reiterate that the construction industry's economic and cost-related factors are among the key barriers in addition to the environment, health-related and regulatory factors.

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_________________________________________________________________________________2024 /12 58 Nevertheless, some factors must be considered in economics, and specific questions must be posed (Henriques & Richardson, 2012).Profitability or return on investment, for example, is vital to shareholders and is one aspect of the economic component, but it is not the only one (Oncioiu et al., 2020).Other elements, such as human capital, intellectual capital, and natural capital, must be considered in the long run (Liu et al., 2020).This stresses that sustainable businesses must take responsibility toward shareholders to maximise profits and a diverse range of stakeholders to address the social and environmental bottom lines (Kordi et al., 2021).

Environmental aspect
The construction industry is resource-intensive.Tan et al. (2011) argued with the increasing requirements for resource efficiency and climate change adaptation in the construction industry, contractors need to implement sustainable practices.Schmidt and Osebold (2014) added that the construction industry is one of the economic activities with the greatest environmental impact.Hence, there is a need to manage its consequences.Similarly, Liu et al. (2020) reiterate that due to the extended impact of the construction industry on the environment, sustainability initiatives such as green building should focus on this sector.
It is acknowledged that the ecological environment focuses on maintaining and utilising the environment sustainably when it comes to sustainability (Oncioiu et al., 2020).Construction organisations must examine the effects on the natural environment, such as trash disposal, air pollution, water usage, and various other factors, as part of the sustainable construction journey (Schmidt & Osebold, 2014).Legislation is required to make businesses more responsive to environmental challenges.Because the construction sector has a significant ecological impact, improvements in environmental performance in the construction industry have been identified as significant contributors to contractor competitiveness (Tan et al., 2011).

Social aspect
In their investigation of social sustainability in the construction sector, Zuo et al. (2012) argued that this concept is largely missing in mainstream literature.Most of the current studies focus on the economic and environmental aspects of sustainable construction (Kordi et al., 2021).Social sustainability focuses on people, community, human, and labour rights.For example, some studies in the construction industry focus on how the construction sector can improve the general well-being of communities through sustainable construction (Tan et al., 2011).Like the International Labour Organization (ILO) treaty on labour rights, many laws address this aspect of sustainability.
Furthermore, corporate social responsibility is prominent in tackling societal challenges, such as community investment and workplace diversity promotion, among other things (Henriques & Richardson, 2012).Furthermore, social sustainability is manifested indirectly in the construction sector by boosting social standards, improving quality of life, and implementing social projects.Social

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_________________________________________________________________________________2024 /12 sustainability goals include customer satisfaction and collaboration with employees, suppliers, clients, and local communities (Matisoff et al., 2016).

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Extant research shows that construction activities significantly impact the environment, economy and society at large (Ametepey et al., 2015;Zulu et al., 2022).The calls for enhanced sustainability practices through stakeholder engagement have been advanced by scholars (Kordi et al., 2021).Despite the heightened calls, sustainability practices in the construction sector remain incoherent and diverse.For example, Tan et al. (2011) examined the sustainability outcomes in terms of competitive strategy.Contrary, Oncioiu et al. (2020) argued that sustainability reporting has an impact on sustainability benefits such as increasing social, environmental and economic performance.
Furthermore, Liu et al. (2020) argued that sustainability practices in the construction sector examine the environmental, social and economic consequences of how projects are carried out and the supporting systems conceived, built, managed, maintained, and eventually delivered.However, previously, key performance indicators of projects were monitored using the iron triangle of cost, quality, and time; this resulted in a disregard for knowledge collection on how sustainable practices influence these projects (Schmidt & Osebold, 2017).This research strives to put the concept of sustainability into context and show how it may be improved within the framework of the project.Sustainable construction is the incorporation of environmental, social, and economic issues into construction industry plans and procedures.It applies sustainable development concepts to the entire construction cycle, beginning with raw material extraction and continuing through building and infrastructure planning, design, and construction, to eventual deconstruction and waste disposal (Abidin, 2010).Sustainable construction entails the implementation of sustainable practices, which focused, among others, on the reduction of energy use and carbon emissions, water conservation, as well as recycling of waste and building materials.A summary of the common construction sustainability practices and attributes is shown in Table 1.

Benefits of implementing sustainability
Sustainability benefits are wide-ranging depending on the area of focus.For example, Tan et al. (2011) argued that sustainability practices are credited with positive environmental performance by minimising externalities.Furthermore, Sichali and Banda (2017) argued that sustainability practices in the construction industry enhance energy efficiency and renewable energy and lower greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to climate change adaptation.Additionally, Liu et al. (2020) reiterated that sustainability practices minimise resource consumption during the construction process by maximising resource reuse.Oncioiu et al. (2020) advance some advantages to establishing sustainable practices in the construction sector, such as good corporate governance of environmental and economic

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_________________________________________________________________________________2024 /12 61 performance, and addressing social concerns to enhance the corporate reputation of the organisation.
It has further been argued that the adaption of projects to sustainable methods leads to a substantial competitive advantage, increasing the project's profitability through more excellent rentals and lower expenses, which potential investors particularly value (Afanas'ev & Shash, 2020).On the one hand, it has been empirically demonstrated that eco-friendly production favourably corresponds with the enterprise's profitability and competitiveness (Hwang et al., 2017).A summary of the benefits of implementing sustainable practices by construction companies is highlighted in Table 2. Traditionally, sustainability has been studied in the contexts of the economy, medicine, and society (Akimzhanova et al., 2018).Nevertheless, most studies focused on drivers, barriers, and sustainability risks (Ametepey et al., 2015;Zulu et al., 2022).Thus, this paper investigates the benefits of sustainability practices in the construction sector.

Challenges of implementing sustainability practices
Despite the benefits of sustainability, several challenges must be overcome to realise the advantages.For example, Martens and Carvalho (2017) claimed that social, economic, and environmental concerns have gotten increasingly complicated, requiring firms to innovate, manage change, and adopt new activities.One identified difficulty is the lack of a consistent structure and vocabulary for analysing and assessing sustainability, which results in the absence of effective applicable methods for projects (Thomson et al., 2011).
Furthermore, Zulu et al. (2022) identified barriers (challenges) such as awareness and knowledge-related factors, regulatory and industry-related factors, and economic and cost-related factors as impacting sustainability practices in their study of drivers and barriers to sustainability practices in the Zambian Construction Industry.Ametepey et al. (2015) found financial, political, management/leadership, technical, socio-cultural, and knowledge/awareness hurdles (challenges) in implementing sustainability in the construction sector company study in Ghana.Fear of more significant investment costs for sustainable construction compared to standard building and the potential of unforeseen expenses are frequently cited as impediments to sustainable development.One of the most important issues is that most contractors are typically unaware of the savings or benefits realised from sustainable construction practices (Ametepey et al., 2015;Liu et al., 2020).The significant challenges include increased investment expenses, fear of a long payback time, customer concerns about profitability, lack of knowledge about life cycle costs, and a lack of financial resources.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design with a quantitative approach.Data was collected using a structured questionnaire containing closedended questions from 67 respondents who were purposively sampled from building construction companies registered with the National Council for Construction (NCC) in grades 1 to 4 and operating in the Copperbelt province of Zambia.Purposive sampling was used to select contractors who have been operating for at least three years based on their considerable volume of work.The sampling method was chosen because most contractors registered with NCC in grades 1 to 4 are based in Lusaka, which was not a study area.
Data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis, regression analysis, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA).Factor analysis was carried out to explain the extent to which each item in the dataset was associated with the respective factor (variable).Further, regression analysis was carried out to evaluate relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variable (benefits).The hypothesis was tested using multiple regression analysis.

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA)
An EFA was conducted to assess the uni-dimensionality and reliability of each factor.Principal components with Varimax rotation were specified as the extraction and rotation methods, respectively.The results revealed that the attributes of all the factors had Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) values of 0.653, which is slightly below

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_________________________________________________________________________________2024 /12 the 0.7 threshold, but still acceptable.More so, Bartlett's test of sphericity was found significant (p = 0.000), as shown in Table 3.This indicated that the factor analysis was appropriate (Rehbinder, 2011;Chisumbe et al., 2022).Factor loadings were inspected for each variable.The factor loadings denoted the relationship between the items (statements) under each variable and the extracted components that explained their variation.The items not shown in Table 5 were 'deleted' for not loading at all, double loading, and loadings below 0.5.For environmental sustainability practices, 3 items were 'undeleted', and they loaded on one component, which explained the variable's variation.For sustainability benefits, only 3 items were 'undeleted' and loaded on one component which explained their variation.All the retained factor loadings were above 0.5 and signified strong relationships between constructs (items) and components.Further, factor analysis revealed that the total variance explained by the extracted components was 72.65 %.This implies that a greater percentage of the score variation was explainable.Overall, the statistics point to the fact that the data validity was good for the research and that the research instrument (questionnaire) tested the concepts at hand.The reliability of the collected data was established in order to know the consistency of the scores from the respondents.Consistency reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient.The final column in Table 4 gives a summary of reliability statistics.All the Cronbach's alpha values were above the 0.5 mark for acceptable reliability, amongst which 2 exceeded the 0.7 mark for strong reliability.Overall, the statistics confirmed that the collected data was consistent and reliable.

Correlation analysis
A correlation analysis was conducted between the variables in the conceptual framework, as collated in Table 5. Correlations were calculated for the main independent variables and the influencing variables.A two-tailed correlation analysis was carried out.The significance of a relationship depended on whether the respective P-value was below 0.05 or above.A relationship was deemed significant if the P-value was less than 0.05.The relationship between social sustainability practices and sustainability benefits was positive, fairly weak and not significant (R = 0.225; P = 0.068; P > 0.05).The relationship between economic sustainability practices and sustainability benefits was positive, average and significant (R = 0.311; P = 0.010; P < 0.05).The relationship between environmental sustainability practices and sustainability benefits was positive, weak and not significant (R = 0.129; P = 0.299; P > 0.05).The correlations between 3 influencing variables and the dependent variable were also extracted.This was meant to establish their level of influence.The relationship between number of years in operation and sustainability benefits was positive, average and significant (R = 0.249; P = 0.042; P < 0.05).The relationship between sustainability awareness and sustainability benefits was negative, weak and insignificant (R = −0.178;P = 0.151; P > 0.05).Similarly, stakeholder influence did not significantly influence sustainability practices -the relationship between the two was weak and insignificant (R = 0.028; P = 0.822; P > 0.05).Correlations have revealed that, of the main variables, only economic

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_________________________________________________________________________________2024 /12 sustainability practices significantly influenced sustainability benefits, while and environmental sustainability practices did not.Amongst the influencing variables, only the years in operation had a significant effect on sustainability sustainability awareness and stakeholder participation had no significant effect.

Multiple regression analysis.
To test the hypotheses in the conceptual model, a multiple regression was conducted.The variables were sustainability awareness, stakeholder participation, and years of operation.
The independent variables were social, economic, and environmental sustainability practices.The dependent variable was the 'benefits of sustainability practices.'The independent variables' influence on the benefits of sustainability was assessed statistically based empirical data.
Regression assumptions.In order to ascertain whether the collected quantitative data was suitable for regression analysis, two regression assumptions were tested -the normality of variables assumption and the non-collinearity of variables assumption.

Model summary statistics.
Table 6 presents the model summary for the data.explains the combined effect of the independent variables (social sustainability practices, economic sustainability practices and environmental sustainability practices) on the dependent variable (benefits of sustainability).The relationship between the independent and dependent variables was significant (R = 0.436; P = 0.042; P < 0.05).The coefficient of determination (R-square) was 0.190.This implies that the independent variables controlled the dependent variable up to 19 %, and other factors controlled the remaining 81 %.As indicated, the F-value for the model was significant at 95 % confidence level (α = 0.05) with a P-value of 0.042.This also indicates that the independent variables' effect on the dependent variable was significant.Therefore, the model was significant.

Analysis of variance. Analysis of variance, as shown
Variable coefficient statistics.Furthermore, variable coefficients were calculated for the independent variables.A beta (β) coefficient was calculated for each independent variable.This signifies how much each variable contributed to predicting the dependent variable.Table 8 shows the results of the variable coefficients.Social sustainability practices were not a significant predictor of sustainability benefits (β = 0.056; P = 0.671; P > 0.05).Economic Sustainability practices were a significant predictor of sustainability benefits (β = 0.296; P = 0.029; P < 0.05).Environmental sustainability practices were not a significant predictor of sustainability benefits (β = 0.062; P = 0.621; P > Out of the 3 influencing variables included in the analysis, only the years the company had been in operation had a significant influence on the dependent variable.Sustainability awareness and stakeholder participation did not have a significant effect on the dependent variable.Based on the coefficients for the main variables, the following multiple regression model was developed: where Y -the dependent variable -benefits of sustainability; K -constant; X1 -social sustainability practices; X2 -economic sustainability practices; X3 -environmental sustainability practices; β1 -coefficient for social sustainability practices; β2 -coefficient for economic sustainability practices; β3 -coefficient for environmental sustainability practices; ε -the error term.Substituting into the equation yields the following: Y = 2.380 + 0.056X1 + 0.296X2 + 0.062X3 + 0.866

Hypothesis Testing
The research tested three hypotheses.The testing was done by comparing the P-values with the significance level (α).Owing to the fact that the confidence level was 95 %, the level of significance was 5 % (0.05).The decision rule for the hypotheses was to regard the null hypothesis, H0, as supported if its P-value is smaller than the significance level (i.e., P < α or P < 0.05).Table 9 summarises the hypothesis testing for this research.As mentioned, hypothesis one was unsupported because its P-value was greater than the significance level.Thus, it can be inferred that social sustainability practices had no significant influence on the benefits of sustainability.On the contrary, hypothesis two was supported by the data in that its P-value was smaller than the significance level.Therefore, economic sustainability practices significantly influence the benefits of sustainability.The empirical data did not support hypothesis three.As such, it was inferred that environmental sustainability practices did not significantly influence the benefits of sustainability.

DISCUSSION
This study sought to establish the main elements of sustainability practices by local construction companies in Zambia and to understand the elements of sustainability practices in which stakeholders participate.To that effect, the discussion is in line with the objectives that the research sought to achieve.

Social sustainability practices and sustainability benefits
The research found a weak and insignificant correlation between social sustainability practices and sustainability benefits.Furthermore, the hypothesis that social sustainability practices have a positive influence on the benefits of sustainability was 'not supported' by the empirical data.This shows that social sustainability as a predictor variable did not significantly influence sustainability benefits.As such, the efforts to improve social sustainability did not result in significant sustainability benefits.Balaman (2019) argued that social sustainability aspects, including labour rights, good working conditions, and social responsibility, are all issues that must be addressed when implementing sustainability practices.

Economic sustainability practices and sustainability benefits
The research found an average and significant correlation between economic sustainability practices and sustainability benefits.Moreover, the empirical data supported the hypothesis that economic sustainability practices have a positive influence on the benefits of sustainability.This means that economic sustainability practices resulted in organisations enjoying sustainability benefits.These findings were compared against the findings of earlier scholars who undertook similar studies in different regions.What was found in this part of the research was in line with the arguments and findings put across by several scholars.For instance, Tan et al. (2011) argued that improvement in sustainable construction contributes to business competitiveness.In addition, Shan et al. (2017) support the idea that investment in sustainable practices minimises risks and enhances organisational competitiveness.

Environmental sustainability practices and sustainability benefits
The research found a poor correlation between environmental sustainability practices and sustainability benefits.Moreover, the hypothesis that environmental sustainability practices have a positive influence on the benefits of sustainability was 'not supported' by the empirical data.The implication is that environmental sustainability efforts made by organisations operating in the construction sector in Copperbelt did not translate into realising sustainability benefits.The finding is in line with many previous studies which argue that sustainability practices in the construction industry are mainly focused on the environment because of the physical nature of the activities (AlSanad, 2015;Bahaudin et al., 2017;Sichali & Banda, 2017).
For example, AlSanad (2015) argues that the main thrust of sustainability discussion in the construction industry is because of its impact on the environment.Furthermore, a study by Bahaudin et al. (2017) in Malaysia argues that there is still limited green building infrastructure awareness and calls for more participation.Further, the findings of this research on environmental sustainability practices align well with studies on Sub-Saharan Africa, which highlight a cycle of poor environmental management.Omisore (2018) argues that the development has led to many countries in the region failing to meet their sustainability targets under the Millennium Development Goals.

The effect of influencing variables
Of the three tested influencing variables, only the period a company had been in operation had a significant effect on sustainability benefits.This meant that construction companies improved in terms of embracing sustainability practices after being in the industry for many years.Sustainability awareness was found to be low amongst local contractors operating in the construction sector in Zambia.This aligns well with what Sichali and Banda (2017) reiterated -that sustainability awareness is only predominant from professionals who have participated in sustainability before.Technicians were still at the lower end of the tail regarding awareness.Concerning the participation of stakeholders, empirical data and its analysis revealed the participation in sustainability programmes by stakeholders in the industry.
findings are contrary to the findings of Li et al. (2016) who argue that stakeholders are critical to project and sustainability delivery, whose participation can significantly improve project performance.Therefore, improved participation of stakeholders in sustainability practices enhances the legitimacy of the practices and the organisation's success (Yuan et al., 2018).In the industry at hand, the low participation is attributed to low sustainability awareness.Moreover, it can be attributed to a lack of active participation by top managers and owners of construction companies.Overall, the sustainability credentials were poor for companies in the construction sector in Zambia.This was in line with empirical finding by Zulu et al. (2022).Zulu et al. (2022) acknowledged that Zambia and Sub-Saharan Africa are lagging due to several barriers to the implementation of sustainable construction and barriers to sustainability practices in the Zambian construction industry, such as environmental and health-related factors, regulatory and industry-related factors, and economy and firm-related factors.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This study has provided valuable insights into the relationship between sustainability practices and the resultant benefits for organisations within the construction industry.Notably, it was found that economic sustainability practices exhibited significant influence, underscoring the importance of such activities in driving sustainability benefits within this sector.Therefore, it is recommended that construction sector organisations prioritise activities associated with economic sustainability practices to realise the benefits of sustainability fully.However, it is imperative to acknowledge the limitations of this study.Firstly, the research scope was confined to the Copperbelt province of Zambia, with a relatively small sample size of 67 respondents.Thus, extending the study to encompass contractors from diverse geographical locations and a larger population is advised to enhance the generalisability of the findings.
Moreover, while this research focused on three main independent variablessocial sustainability practices, economic sustainability practices, and environmental sustainability practices -along with one dependent variable -sustainability benefits, there exists potential for future investigations to explore additional variables and their interrelationships.For instance, researchers could examine the impact of these sustainability practices on variables such as competitive advantage, organisational performance, and reputation, thereby contributing further to the understanding of sustainability dynamics in the construction industry.
While this study has yielded significant findings, there remains ample room for further exploration and refinement.By addressing the identified limitations and expanding upon the current research framework, future studies can offer deeper insights into the complexities of sustainability practices and their implications for organisational success across various industries and contexts.

Table 2 .
Benefits of Implementing Sustainability Practices

Table 3 .
The KMO Value

Table 4 .
Factor Loadings and Reliability Statistics

Table 6 .
Model Summary

Table 7 .
Table 7, was another technique used to test the multiple regression model developed for the research.It tested how best the data fit the model.Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)

Table 8 .
Variable Coefficients a Dependent variable: benefits Baltic