Navigating the Transition towards Bio-based Construction

Abstract

The Dutch construction sector faces a critical challenge: meeting ambitious housing targets while drastically reducing carbon emissions. Existing research identifies barriers to sustainable construction but offers limited insight into how actors coordinate their strategic positions to overcome them. This research examines how strategic positioning of value chain actors influences the socio-technical transition toward bio-based construction in the Netherlands. Using semi-structured interviews with multiple stakeholders and a Delphi validation study, this research identifies critical coordination failures preventing transition acceleration. The findings reveal that strategic incentives often outweigh purely economic considerations, as timber construction costs more than conventional methods in traditional calculations. However, the answer is contingent: strategic positioning enables transition only through coordinated movement across multiple actor types. The research delivers strategic recommendations on two levels. For value chain coordination: establish shared risk distribution mechanisms, create a transition conductor role, and develop contractual frameworks preventing pioneers from bearing disproportionate costs. For institutional investors: integrate sustainability impact measurement beyond financial returns, build network mechanisms connecting capital to capability development, and recognise that fiduciary obligations align with transition goals when prioritising long-term value creation. These recommendations demonstrate that successful transitions require coordinated repositioning across multiple value chain segments rather than isolated optimisation by individual actors.