Page 29 - Hojnik, Jana. 2017. In Persuit of Eco-innovation. Drivers and Consequences of Eco-innovation at Firm Level. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 29
Eco-innovation
Table 2: Selected definitions of eco-innovation
Author Definition of eco-innovation
Fussler and James (1996 in Car- Eco-innovation is the process of developing new products, processes or services,
illo-Hermosilla et al. 2010, which provide customer and business value but significantly decrease environmen-
1074) tal impact.
James (1997) Eco-innovations are new products and processes that provide customer and busi-
ness value but significantly decrease environmental impact.
Rennings Eco-innovations include all measures of relevant actors (firms, politicians, unions,
(2000, 322) associations, churches, private households), which develop new ideas, behavior,
products and processes, apply or introduce them and which contribute to a reduc-
tion of environmental burdens or to ecologically specified sustainability targets.
Rennings et al. (2004, 8) Environmental innovations consist of new or modified processes, techniques, prac- 29
tices, systems and products to avoid or reduce environmental harms. Environmen-
tal innovations may be developed with or without the explicit aim of reducing
environmental harm. They may be motivated by the usual business goals such as re-
ducing costs or enhancing product quality. Many environmental innovations com-
bine an environmental benefit with a benefit for the company or user.
Chen et al. (2006, 332) Green innovation is a hardware or software innovation that is related to green prod-
ucts or processes, including the innovation in technologies that are involved in en-
ergy-saving, pollution prevention, waste recycling, green product designs, or corpo-
rate environmental management.
Ottman et al. (2006, 24) Although no consumer product has a zero impact on the environment, in business,
the terms ‘green products’ or ‘environmental product’ are used commonly to de-
scribe those that strive to protect or enhance the natural environment by conserv-
ing energy and/or resources and reducing or eliminating the use of toxic agents,
pollution, and waste.
Competitiveness and Innova- Eco-innovation is any form of innovation aiming at significant and demonstrable
tion Framework 2007 to 2013 progress towards the goal of sustainable development, through reducing impacts
(in Charter and Clark 2007, 9) on the environment or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of natural re-
sources, including energy.
MEI – Measuring Eco-Innova- Eco-innovation is the production, application or exploitation of a good, service,
tion – research project (Kemp production process, organizational structure, or management or business method
and Foxon 2007, 4; Kemp and that is novel to the firm or user and that results, throughout its lifecycle, in a reduc-
Pearson 2007, 7) tion of environmental risk, pollution and the negative impacts of resources use (in-
cluding energy use) compared to relevant alternatives.
Reid and Miedzinski (2008, Eco-innovation is “the creation of novel and competitively priced goods, process-
2) – The EUROPE INNO- es, systems, services, and procedures designed to satisfy human needs and provide
VA panel a better quality of life for everyone with a lifecycle minimal use of natural resourc-
es (materials including energy and surface area) per unit output, and a minimal re-
lease of toxic substances”.
Community Innovation A new or significantly improved product (good or service), process, organizational
Surveys (CIS) in Belin et al. method or marketing method that creates environmental benefits compared to al-
(2009) ternatives. The environmental benefits can be the primary objective of the innova-
tion or the result of other innovation objectives. The environmental benefits of an
innovation can occur during the production of a good or service or during the af-
ter-sale use of a good or service by the end user.
Table 2: Selected definitions of eco-innovation
Author Definition of eco-innovation
Fussler and James (1996 in Car- Eco-innovation is the process of developing new products, processes or services,
illo-Hermosilla et al. 2010, which provide customer and business value but significantly decrease environmen-
1074) tal impact.
James (1997) Eco-innovations are new products and processes that provide customer and busi-
ness value but significantly decrease environmental impact.
Rennings Eco-innovations include all measures of relevant actors (firms, politicians, unions,
(2000, 322) associations, churches, private households), which develop new ideas, behavior,
products and processes, apply or introduce them and which contribute to a reduc-
tion of environmental burdens or to ecologically specified sustainability targets.
Rennings et al. (2004, 8) Environmental innovations consist of new or modified processes, techniques, prac- 29
tices, systems and products to avoid or reduce environmental harms. Environmen-
tal innovations may be developed with or without the explicit aim of reducing
environmental harm. They may be motivated by the usual business goals such as re-
ducing costs or enhancing product quality. Many environmental innovations com-
bine an environmental benefit with a benefit for the company or user.
Chen et al. (2006, 332) Green innovation is a hardware or software innovation that is related to green prod-
ucts or processes, including the innovation in technologies that are involved in en-
ergy-saving, pollution prevention, waste recycling, green product designs, or corpo-
rate environmental management.
Ottman et al. (2006, 24) Although no consumer product has a zero impact on the environment, in business,
the terms ‘green products’ or ‘environmental product’ are used commonly to de-
scribe those that strive to protect or enhance the natural environment by conserv-
ing energy and/or resources and reducing or eliminating the use of toxic agents,
pollution, and waste.
Competitiveness and Innova- Eco-innovation is any form of innovation aiming at significant and demonstrable
tion Framework 2007 to 2013 progress towards the goal of sustainable development, through reducing impacts
(in Charter and Clark 2007, 9) on the environment or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of natural re-
sources, including energy.
MEI – Measuring Eco-Innova- Eco-innovation is the production, application or exploitation of a good, service,
tion – research project (Kemp production process, organizational structure, or management or business method
and Foxon 2007, 4; Kemp and that is novel to the firm or user and that results, throughout its lifecycle, in a reduc-
Pearson 2007, 7) tion of environmental risk, pollution and the negative impacts of resources use (in-
cluding energy use) compared to relevant alternatives.
Reid and Miedzinski (2008, Eco-innovation is “the creation of novel and competitively priced goods, process-
2) – The EUROPE INNO- es, systems, services, and procedures designed to satisfy human needs and provide
VA panel a better quality of life for everyone with a lifecycle minimal use of natural resourc-
es (materials including energy and surface area) per unit output, and a minimal re-
lease of toxic substances”.
Community Innovation A new or significantly improved product (good or service), process, organizational
Surveys (CIS) in Belin et al. method or marketing method that creates environmental benefits compared to al-
(2009) ternatives. The environmental benefits can be the primary objective of the innova-
tion or the result of other innovation objectives. The environmental benefits of an
innovation can occur during the production of a good or service or during the af-
ter-sale use of a good or service by the end user.
