Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
implementation of a new or significantly improved product (e.g. change in product
properties), process (e.g. changed delivery methods), marketing method (e.g. new
product packaging) or organizational method (e.g. changes in workplace organiza-
tion) in business practices, workplace organization, or external relations (OECD
2005 ). It should be emphasized that innovations need to be successfully diffused
in the market (e.g. products) or implemented (e.g. processes) to achieve an eco-
nomic impact, that is, go beyond inventions (OECD 2005 ). An innovation has to
have a significant degree of novelty for the firm (be it self-developed or adopted)
and can also be new to the market or world (OECD 2005 ).
2.3 Eco-innovation Implementation
Eco-innovations are considered as one of the key factors for companies directing
their business activities toward sustainability through innovation. Environmental
issues are now recognized as sources of strategic change and drivers for innovation
strategies (Aragón-Correa et al. 2008 ). Eco-innovations represent new or enhanced
processes, organizational forms, as well as products or technologies that are ben-
eficial to the environment in that they reduce or avoid negative environmental
impacts (Rennings 2000 ; OECD 2005 ; Beise and Rennings 2005 ). Each of these
three general types is further elaborated with regard to the environmental dimen-
sion (Cheng and Shiu 2012 ; Klewitz and Hansen 2014 ):
• Organizational innovations concern commitment to implementing new forms
of eco-innovation management. Eco-organizations cannot reduce environmental
impact directly, but they can facilitate the implementation of eco-processes
(e.g. in manufacturing) and eco-product innovations. The implementation of
eco-innovation in eco-organizations includes eco-training programs, eco-product
design programs, the introduction of eco-learning techniques, the creation of
management teams to deal with eco-issues, and eco-management systems.
• Process innovations refer to the introduction of manufacturing processes that
lead to reduced environmental impact, such as closed loops for solvents, mate-
rial recycling, or filters. Eco-process implementation involves the improvement
of existing production processes or the addition of new processes to reduce
environmental impact. New processes can be additive solutions or be integrated
into production processes through substitution of inputs, optimization of pro-
duction, or reclamation of outputs.
• Product innovations are improvements or entirely new developments of prod-
ucts and services. For instance, eco-design may improve products through
more eco-benign materials (e.g. organic, recycled materials), high durability,
low energy consumption while the development of environmental or sustain-
able technologies (e.g. renewable energy technologies) represent entirely new
products (Hart and Milstein 2003 ; van Hemel and Cramer 2002 ). Because the
principal environmental impact of many products stems from their use (e.g.
fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions of cars) and disposal (e.g. heavy metals in
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