Vikten av hållbart byggande : En studie över användandet av livscykelanalyser för bättre miljöval inom byggbranschen

Sammanfattning: Purpose: To use theory about organization, stakeholders, knowledge management and powerstructures to analyze the challenges regarding life-cycle assessments in theconstruction industry in Sweden. The study aims to provide a deeper understandingof why the challenges exists and how companies can work to manage them. Research questions: How are life-cycle assessments used within the construction industry today?- What challenges exists in the use of life-cycle assessments today?- What stakeholders affect the use of life-cycle assessments today?- How does the organisation within construction companies affect the use oflifecycle assessment?- How are life-cycle assessments affected by the different degree of knowledge thestakeholders have? Methodology: This is a study of inductive character and is performed as a case study at a largeconstruction company. The study starts with an initial literature study and identifiesrelevant theory to answer the research questions. Then the gathering of empiricaldata is made by industry and government reports, interviews and a focus group.The findings were then analysed and compared to the theory. Results: The results show that the client is the stakeholder with the highest influence of theuse of life-cycle assessments. However, this stakeholder category was identified tohave insufficient knowledge about life-cycle assessments and the benefits of it.There is also no accepted standard for comparison between different actors.Therefore, demand remain low but the study show that the knowledge and demandfrom clients are growing and will do so in the future. The organisation need to workcloser to the suppliers and external contractors to efficiently conduct life-cycleassessments. This could lead to competitive advantage as the demand for theservice grows.