Measuring Sustainability: Why and How Public-Private Partnerships Achieve Envision's Platinum Verification

Public-private partnerships (P3) are outperforming other delivery methods in their ability to meet sustainability objectives. The main driver for decisions in any project has been seen as linked to a cost analysis. This research aims to determine why and how P3 projects are more likely to implement more effective sustainable decisions throughout a project's lifecycle. In this context, the decision-making is directed explicitly at the project team's reasoning for implementing sustainable practices beyond cost-effectiveness.

The researcher generated questions to ask potential project teams to understand why and how P3 projects were better at implementing sustainable decisions. Sustainability was operationalized using Envision's framework. Interviews with project teams that utilized the P3 project delivery method and received the highest sustainability rating provided a first-hand account of the decision-making process. The interviews are analyzed utilizing framework analysis. The results will identify the motivations for implementing sustainability.

The results suggest that the P3 contract structure is the most compelling reason these projects can implement sustainable decisions better than other project delivery methods. The written requirements from the contract documents or legislative requirements and the Contractor's desire to do a good job are other drivers for this increased sustainability.