The non-linear impact of industrial agglomeration on green total factor productivity in construction: moderating role of construction consulting services

Purpose This study investigates how industrial agglomeration (IA) affects green total factor productivity (GTFP) in the construction sector, whether construction consulting services (CCS) moderates this relationship, and how environmental regulation influences these mechanisms. A unified framework is developed to offer theoretical and empirical insights for green transformation in the sector. Design/methodology/approach Using data from China’s construction industry (2008–2022), GTFP is measured with the Slacks–Based Data Envelopment Analysis model. IA is quantified by the location quotient, and CCS is assessed across provinces. Multiple regression models examine the non-linear IA–GTFP relationship and CCS’s moderating role. Capital efficiency, labor efficiency, energy efficiency, and carbon emission efficiency are measured, and formal and informal environmental regulations are examined as contextual factors. Findings IA shows an inverted U–shaped relationship with GTFP, promoting productivity at moderate levels but restraining it when excessive. CCS directly enhance GTFP and weaken the curvature of the IA–GTFP link. IA improves labor efficiency but exhibits inverted U–shaped effects on capital, energy, and carbon efficiencies, while CCS mainly strengthen energy and carbon efficiencies. Particularly, informal environmental regulation amplifies these positive effects. Research limitations/implications The study relies on inter-provincial data, limiting insights into individual units’ performance. Findings are specific to China’s construction industry, and cross-national generalization requires further verification. Recommendations have not been fully validated in practice. Future research should explore different types of CS, their roles in green technologies, enterprise innovation, and the diffusion mechanisms of CS networks across regions. Practical implications Policymakers can develop region-specific industrial agglomeration strategies and enhance CS support to optimize GTFP. Promoting green technologies, environmentally friendly construction, and consulting service systems can strengthen labor, energy, and carbon efficiency. Combining formal policies with public-driven informal regulation helps achieve sustainable development and high-performance industrial ecosystems. Social implications Informal environmental regulation, driven by public awareness and green economic development, enhances IA and CS effectiveness, promoting socially responsible growth in the construction industry. Strengthening public participation and environmental consciousness contributes to sustainable urbanization and climate-friendly practices. Originality/value The first study to integrate IA, CCS, and GTFP into a unified empirical framework, revealing the mechanisms linking IA, CCS, and environmental regulation to green productivity in construction industry.