Page 38 - Hojnik, Jana. 2017. In Persuit of Eco-innovation. Drivers and Consequences of Eco-innovation at Firm Level. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 38
In Pursuit of Eco-innovation
novation can be defined in the context of environmental improvement.
The first level (i.e., modification) is incremental and regards small or pro-
gressive improvements to existing products. The second level (i.e., re-de-
sign) is the complete re-design of existing product concepts or “green
limits”, where there is a major re-design of existing products (while the
level of improvement that is technically feasible is limited). The third lev-
el (i.e., alternatives) regards functional or “product alternatives”; this re-
fers to new product or service concepts that satisfy the same function-
al need (e.g., teleconferencing instead of travelling). Finally, the last level
(i.e., creation) is that of systems as designs suitable for sustainable socie-
ty (e.g., design and introduction of entirely new products, processes, pro-
cedures, organizations and institutions). Thus, mechanisms are related to
where eco-innovation target takes place or is introduced (OECD 2009).
38
Eco-innovation’s impact on the environment
Figure 3: Conceptual relationships between sustainable manufacturing and eco-innovation
Source: OECD 2009, 15, Figure 5.
The last dimension is eco-innovation’s impact. The impact that
eco-innovation brings across its lifecycle or some other focus area refers
to its effect on the environment (OECD 2009). Eco-innovation’s target
and mechanism interplay with socio-technical surroundings and bring
potential environmental impacts (OECD 2009). Certain mechanisms
(e.g., alternatives and creation) generally bring higher potential environ-
novation can be defined in the context of environmental improvement.
The first level (i.e., modification) is incremental and regards small or pro-
gressive improvements to existing products. The second level (i.e., re-de-
sign) is the complete re-design of existing product concepts or “green
limits”, where there is a major re-design of existing products (while the
level of improvement that is technically feasible is limited). The third lev-
el (i.e., alternatives) regards functional or “product alternatives”; this re-
fers to new product or service concepts that satisfy the same function-
al need (e.g., teleconferencing instead of travelling). Finally, the last level
(i.e., creation) is that of systems as designs suitable for sustainable socie-
ty (e.g., design and introduction of entirely new products, processes, pro-
cedures, organizations and institutions). Thus, mechanisms are related to
where eco-innovation target takes place or is introduced (OECD 2009).
38
Eco-innovation’s impact on the environment
Figure 3: Conceptual relationships between sustainable manufacturing and eco-innovation
Source: OECD 2009, 15, Figure 5.
The last dimension is eco-innovation’s impact. The impact that
eco-innovation brings across its lifecycle or some other focus area refers
to its effect on the environment (OECD 2009). Eco-innovation’s target
and mechanism interplay with socio-technical surroundings and bring
potential environmental impacts (OECD 2009). Certain mechanisms
(e.g., alternatives and creation) generally bring higher potential environ-
