Unlocking Core Strategies for Advancing ESG Practices for Circularity in Construction Organizations: a Quantitative Approach in Vietnam

While the ESG framework is widely recognized as a crucial instrument for promoting sustainability in construction, there is a significant research gap in understanding how ESG strategies can be effectively integrated with circularity, particularly in emerging economies like Vietnam. This study directly addresses this gap by identifying and evaluating twelve core strategies for advancing ESG practices for circularity in Vietnamese construction firms, offering a novel contribution to the field. Using a quantitative approach, data from construction professionals were analyzed through various statistical techniques, including exploratory factor analysis, reliability testing, analysis of variance, Tukey posthoc test, and the relative importance index. This study’s contribution is threefold: First, it identifies three primary clusters of ESG4C strategies - environmental, social, and governance - providing a structured framework for understanding these interconnected elements. Second, it reveals significant differences in stakeholder perceptions (clients, contractors, and consultants) regarding the importance of these strategies, offering valuable insights for targeted interventions. Third, and perhaps most importantly, it establishes a hierarchy of strategic priorities, demonstrating consensus among Vietnamese construction stakeholders on the critical importance of employee safety and well-being, fair labor standards, waste reduction, energy efficiency, and eco-friendly materials. This clear connection between ESG practices and circularity within the specific context of the Vietnamese construction sector, an under-researched area, constitutes the core novelty of this study. The practical implications are substantial, offering actionable insights for industry stakeholders, both in Vietnam and globally, to drive the construction sector toward more sustainable and circular practices.