Page 18 - Hojnik, Jana. 2017. In Persuit of Eco-innovation. Drivers and Consequences of Eco-innovation at Firm Level. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 18
In Pursuit of Eco-innovation
ety, through the development and implementation of products, services
and other integrated sustainable practices in order to improve the envi-
ronmental performance (OECD 2009). On the other hand, as aforemen-
tioned, the practice of green activities and conservation of the environ-
ment has become mandatory due to the scarce resources and increasing
population (Govindan et al. 2014).
The subject of our study is eco-innovation, which is a subset of all in-
novations in an economy (Wagner 2008). According to the Measuring
eco-innovation project (MEI project),1 eco-innovation is defined as: “pro-
duction, application or exploitation of a good, service, production pro-
cess, organizational structure, or management or business method that
is novel to the firm or user and which results, throughout its lifecycle, in
a reduction of environmental risk, pollution and the negative impacts of
18 resources use (including energy use) compared to relevant alternatives”
(Kemp and Pearson 2007, 7). Likewise, Eco-Innovation Observatory
(2013) defined eco-innovation as any innovation that reduces the use of
natural resources and decreases the release of harmful substances across
the whole lifecycle, which reflects its environmental component. Eco-in-
novation therefore is identified by the feature of providing solutions that
are more environmentally benign than relevant alternatives, even if the
environmental component is not planned. It is increasingly apparent and
widely accepted that eco-innovations are environmentally benign; addi-
tionally, some types of eco-innovations may be beneficial for the envi-
ronment and the end-user (e.g., providing energy and material savings).
Moreover, eco-innovations are considered a path to new business oppor-
tunities, encompassing growth and competitive advantage (Aschhoff and
Sofka 2009; Laperche and Uzunidis 2012). In eco-innovation hence lies
the potential to create and provide a win-win situation, pertaining to
both the environment and the company (Horbach 2008).
Therefore, companies should know more about the possible benefits
to be obtained from eco-innovation’s implementation and should be en-
couraged to implement eco-innovation to a larger extent, which we be-
lieve is a critical point to gain a competitive advantage, expand on foreign
markets and improve firm performance in the long run. The way to reach
1 MEI is a project for DG Research of the European Commission (Call FP6-2005-SSP-5A, Area
B, 1.6, Task 1). The project has been carried out in collaboration with Eurostat, the European En-
vironment Agency (EEA) and the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission.
MEI offers a conceptual clarification of eco-innovation (developing a typology) and discusses
possible indicators, leading to proposals for eco-innovation measurement (Kemp and Pearson
2007).
ety, through the development and implementation of products, services
and other integrated sustainable practices in order to improve the envi-
ronmental performance (OECD 2009). On the other hand, as aforemen-
tioned, the practice of green activities and conservation of the environ-
ment has become mandatory due to the scarce resources and increasing
population (Govindan et al. 2014).
The subject of our study is eco-innovation, which is a subset of all in-
novations in an economy (Wagner 2008). According to the Measuring
eco-innovation project (MEI project),1 eco-innovation is defined as: “pro-
duction, application or exploitation of a good, service, production pro-
cess, organizational structure, or management or business method that
is novel to the firm or user and which results, throughout its lifecycle, in
a reduction of environmental risk, pollution and the negative impacts of
18 resources use (including energy use) compared to relevant alternatives”
(Kemp and Pearson 2007, 7). Likewise, Eco-Innovation Observatory
(2013) defined eco-innovation as any innovation that reduces the use of
natural resources and decreases the release of harmful substances across
the whole lifecycle, which reflects its environmental component. Eco-in-
novation therefore is identified by the feature of providing solutions that
are more environmentally benign than relevant alternatives, even if the
environmental component is not planned. It is increasingly apparent and
widely accepted that eco-innovations are environmentally benign; addi-
tionally, some types of eco-innovations may be beneficial for the envi-
ronment and the end-user (e.g., providing energy and material savings).
Moreover, eco-innovations are considered a path to new business oppor-
tunities, encompassing growth and competitive advantage (Aschhoff and
Sofka 2009; Laperche and Uzunidis 2012). In eco-innovation hence lies
the potential to create and provide a win-win situation, pertaining to
both the environment and the company (Horbach 2008).
Therefore, companies should know more about the possible benefits
to be obtained from eco-innovation’s implementation and should be en-
couraged to implement eco-innovation to a larger extent, which we be-
lieve is a critical point to gain a competitive advantage, expand on foreign
markets and improve firm performance in the long run. The way to reach
1 MEI is a project for DG Research of the European Commission (Call FP6-2005-SSP-5A, Area
B, 1.6, Task 1). The project has been carried out in collaboration with Eurostat, the European En-
vironment Agency (EEA) and the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission.
MEI offers a conceptual clarification of eco-innovation (developing a typology) and discusses
possible indicators, leading to proposals for eco-innovation measurement (Kemp and Pearson
2007).
