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Organisations, environmental management and innovation
Organisations, environmental management and innovation

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1.17 Accelerating eco-innovation

Efforts to address these barriers were also considered within the same report and are shown in Figure 9.

Described image
(EC, 2011, p. 5)
Figure 9 Accelerating eco-innovation uptake and development
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This figure is a bar graph. The information is displayed in the following table. (Note: the figures for ‘not applicable’ and ‘don't know/no answer’ were not shown in the original source image and so the numbers are based on our reading of the graph. The exact numbers are less important than their relative proportions when interpreting the data)

Very importantSomewhat importantNot importantNot at all importantNot applicableDK/NA
Collaboration with research institutes, agencies and universities19302114151
Existing regulations, including standards304115752
Limited access to materials3031191262
Expected future regulations imposing new standards333814843
Good access to external information and knowledge, including technology support services344014651
Expected future material scarcity (as an incentive to develop innovative, less material-intensive substitutes)3529161073
Increased market demand for green products363215872
Technological and management capabilities within the enterprise373714732
Access to existing subsidies and fiscal incentives403214752
Secure or increase existing market share423412642
Good business partners453111841
Current high material prices (as an incentive to innovate to use less material and decrease the cost)453111751
Current high energy prices (as an incentive to innovative, to use less energy and decrease the cost)502911541
Expected future increases in energy prices52309531
Figure 9 Accelerating eco-innovation uptake and development

Activity 17 Accelerating eco-innovation

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes

Review Figure 9. Identify the main drivers that might address the barriers and accelerate the uptake of eco-innovation.

Provide your answer...

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Discussion

Focusing on the top five main drivers (those identified as very important) to accelerate eco-innovation, Figure 9 suggests these are related to market share, being a good business partner and, most important of all, a range of drivers related to reducing exposure to costs. Notably, within the ‘somewhat important’ category, the main drivers are existing regulations and standards, access to information, and knowledge and support services, closely followed by expectations of future regulatory standards. Overall, this graph suggests costs and regulatory requirements are key drivers of eco-innovation.

It is important to remember that these tables are reporting on business organisations and, within that, SMEs. The drivers for other types of organisation may vary, but it is likely that for many organisations finance and uncertainty of several aspects (e.g. payback and performance) are likely to remain key barriers.