Page 294 - Hojnik, Jana. 2017. In Persuit of Eco-innovation. Drivers and Consequences of Eco-innovation at Firm Level. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 294
In Pursuit of Eco-innovation
vation). The integrative approach has taken into consideration a larger
number of relevant variables that can work as drivers of eco-innovation,
as well as a larger number of variables to gauge company performance
(outcomes related to eco-innovation implementation). In contrast to par-
tial approaches, which tend to explore few variables, the integrative ap-
proach takes into consideration a greater number of relevant variables
while omitting the less important elements (checked with prior qualita-
tive research). However, by identifying the relative importance of mod-
el elements (drivers and outcomes) for different eco-innovation types
(product, process and organizational eco-innovation), we are able to draw
more precise and accurate implications for entrepreneurs and policy mak-
ers, making our research interesting and beneficial for a wide range of au-
diences.
294 Lastly, we have adapted and tested the eco-innovation construct, cov-
ering product, process and organizational eco-innovation, by verifying
it on the sample of Slovenian companies. The eco-innovation construct
developed in this study offers a relatively complete picture and thus can
be used in future exploration of eco-innovation as a research framework.
The eco-innovation construct was validated in this study and can be used
as an eco-innovation measure both at the overall level and at the dimen-
sional levels.
Finally, based on the results of our study, we proposed the following
definition of eco-innovations: Eco-innovations encompass environmen-
tal and economic dimensions and include a variety of new or significant-
ly improved products, processes, organizational methods and systems
that are more environmentally friendly than the existing ones. They stem
mainly from competitive pressure and customer demand. The most im-
portant outcome of eco-innovations (which can be intentional or a side
effect) pertains to decreased adverse effects to the environment. From the
environmental point of view, eco-innovations decrease the company’s en-
vironmental burden, while from the economic point of view, eco-innova-
tions pay off because they result in competitive and economic benefits, as
well as a higher degree of internationalization.
Implications for policy makers
The implications for governmental policy makers are as follows. The re-
sults of our study indicate the greatest influence of competitive pressure
and customer demand on product eco-innovation; moreover, competi-
tive pressure seems to be the strongest driving force of process and organ-
izational eco-innovation. By comparison, both the command-and-con-
vation). The integrative approach has taken into consideration a larger
number of relevant variables that can work as drivers of eco-innovation,
as well as a larger number of variables to gauge company performance
(outcomes related to eco-innovation implementation). In contrast to par-
tial approaches, which tend to explore few variables, the integrative ap-
proach takes into consideration a greater number of relevant variables
while omitting the less important elements (checked with prior qualita-
tive research). However, by identifying the relative importance of mod-
el elements (drivers and outcomes) for different eco-innovation types
(product, process and organizational eco-innovation), we are able to draw
more precise and accurate implications for entrepreneurs and policy mak-
ers, making our research interesting and beneficial for a wide range of au-
diences.
294 Lastly, we have adapted and tested the eco-innovation construct, cov-
ering product, process and organizational eco-innovation, by verifying
it on the sample of Slovenian companies. The eco-innovation construct
developed in this study offers a relatively complete picture and thus can
be used in future exploration of eco-innovation as a research framework.
The eco-innovation construct was validated in this study and can be used
as an eco-innovation measure both at the overall level and at the dimen-
sional levels.
Finally, based on the results of our study, we proposed the following
definition of eco-innovations: Eco-innovations encompass environmen-
tal and economic dimensions and include a variety of new or significant-
ly improved products, processes, organizational methods and systems
that are more environmentally friendly than the existing ones. They stem
mainly from competitive pressure and customer demand. The most im-
portant outcome of eco-innovations (which can be intentional or a side
effect) pertains to decreased adverse effects to the environment. From the
environmental point of view, eco-innovations decrease the company’s en-
vironmental burden, while from the economic point of view, eco-innova-
tions pay off because they result in competitive and economic benefits, as
well as a higher degree of internationalization.
Implications for policy makers
The implications for governmental policy makers are as follows. The re-
sults of our study indicate the greatest influence of competitive pressure
and customer demand on product eco-innovation; moreover, competi-
tive pressure seems to be the strongest driving force of process and organ-
izational eco-innovation. By comparison, both the command-and-con-
