Abstract
To contribute to SRD, regional and national governments will be required to support businesses and social enterprises in improving the sustainability performance of their products and services. There have been a number of national and regional programmes supporting ecodesign in SMEs but it is well documented that the implementation of ecodesign still remains low. Much of the literature has focussed on the organisational and methodological barriers to ecodesign. This chapter will contribute to this literature by highlighting the regional dimensions of ecodesign with a particular focus on ecodesign interventions for Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). This exploration will highlight three key factors (a) that ecodesign can contribute to SRD, (b) that systems failure presents a rationale for regional interventions to enable ecodesign and (c) there is the need for a new dialogue on the structure and content of interventions supporting ecodesign in SMEs. To support this discussion, four SME case studies originating from a recent regional ecodesign initiative in Wales will be presented as a means to explore strategies for future interventions. This ecodesign initiative was delivered by the Ecodesign Centre (EDC) and supported by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
EDC is an applied research organisation that aims to build capacity and capabilities to enable effective ecodesign. EDC was recently designated a Centre of Expertise by the WAG and is recognised as the ‘voice’ of, and knowledge base for, ecodesign in Wales.
- 2.
It is important to note that when the authors use the term ecodesign they include all perspectives on the role of design in SD, e.g. sustainable design, social design and potentially transformation design.
- 3.
This analytical framework forms part of a more comprehensive analytical framework that will be reported upon through a PhD by Simon O’Rafferty.
- 4.
Micro-SME: Company A = 0–10 employees, Mid-range SME, Company B = 10–50 employees, Company C = 50–100, Upper-range SME, Company D = 100–250 employees. This classification is not official and was developed for this chapter.
- 5.
EDC are conducting a longitudinal evaluation of the industry demonstration projects.
References
Allman, L., Loynd, A., & Street, P. (2006). Bringing innovation to existing approaches to influence the behaviour of small businesses: Final report by the National Centre for Business and Sustainability for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Manchester: The National Centre for Business and Sustainability.
Belmane, I., Karaliunaite, H., Moora, R., Uselyte, & Viire, V. (2003). Feasibility Study for Eco-Design in the Baltic States Industry, 2003–2004, Copenhagen. http://www.norden.org/pub/ebook/2003-559.pdf.
Boekholt, P., & Laroose, J. (2002). Innovation policy and sustainable development: Can innovation incentives make a difference?. Brussels: IWT-Observatory.
Brezet, H., & van Hemel, C. (1997). Ecodesign: A promising approach to sustainable production and consumption. Paris: UNEP.
Burstrom, F., & Korhonen, J. (2001). Municipalities and industrial ecology: Reconsidering municipal environmental management. Sustainable Development, 9 (1), 36–46.
Carlsson, B., & Jacobsson, S. (1997). Diversity creation and technological systems. In C. Edquist (Ed.), Systems of innovation – Technologies, institutions and organization (pp. 130–156). London: Routledge.
Cereda, M., Crespi, G., Criscuolo, C., & Haskel, J. (2005). Design and company performance. London: DTI.
Chaminade, C., & Edquist, C. (2006). Rationales for public policy intervention in the innovation process: A systems of innovation approach. http://www.proact2006.fi/chapter_images/303_Ref_B207_Chaminade_and_Edquist.pdf.
Chen, H. (2005). Practical program evaluation: Assessing and improving planning, implementation, and effectiveness. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Cooke, P. N., Heidenreich, M., & Braczyk, H. (2004). Regional innovation systems: The role of governances in a globalized world. London: Routledge.
Design Council. (2005). Design index: The impact of design on stock market performance. London: Design Council.
DG ENTR. (2002). Innovation tomorrow innovation policy and the regulatory framework: Making innovation an integral part of the broader structural agenda. Brussels: DG ENTR.
Edquist, C., Hommen, L., Johnson, B., Lemola, T., Malerba, F., Reiss, T., et al. (1998). The ISE policy statement – The innovation policy implications of the ‘Innovations Systems and European Integration’. Research project funded by the TSER programme (DG XII). Sweden: Linkoping University.
Fagerberg, J., Mowery, D. C., & Nelson, R. R. (2006). The Oxford handbook of innovation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gertsakis, J. (2003). Facilitating EcoDesign and product stewardship in Australia: A review of EcoDesign and product stewardship interventions emanating from the Centre for Design at RMIT University (1990–1999). Melbourne: Centre for Design at RMIT University.
GLA. (2006). The rationale for public sector intervention in the economy. London: Greater London Authority.
Gouvinhas, R., & Costa, C. (2004). The utilisation of ecodesign practices within Brazilian SME companies. Global Conference on Sustainable Product Development and Life Cycle Engineering, Berlin, Germany.
Haskel, J., Cereda, M., Crespi, G., & Criscuolo, C. (2005). Creativity and design study for DTI using the community innovation survey. London: DTI.
Hauknes, J., & Nordgren, L. (2000). Economic rationales of government involvement in innovation and the supply of innovation-related services. Accessed November 6, 2007. http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/stpstepre/1999r08.htm.
Jönbrink, A., & Melin, H. E. (2008). How central authorities can support ecodesign: Company perspectives. Copenhagen: Norden.
Kemp, R., Andersen, M. M., & Butter, M. (2004). Background report about strategies for ecoinnovation. The Netherlands: VROM.
LEED. (2007). Growth Study: Design in Wales, Final Report to Ecodesign Centre Wales. Cardiff: Cardiff Business School. Prepared by Sally O’Connor (unpublished).
Lipsey, M. W. (1993). Theory as method: Small theories of treatments. New Directions for Program Evaluation, 57, 5–38.
Maxwell, D., & van der Vorst, R. (2003). Developing sustainable products and services. Journal of Cleaner Production, 11 (8), 883–895.
Millward, H., & Lewis, A. (2005). Barriers to successful new product development within small manufacturing companies. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 12 (3), 379–394.
Mirata, M., Nilsson, H., & Kuisma, J. (2005). Production systems aligned with distributed economies: Examples from energy and biomass sectors. Journal of Cleaner Production, 13 (10–11), 981–991.
Morgan, K. (2004). The exaggerated death of geography: Learning, proximity and territorial innovation systems. Journal of Economic Geography, 4 (1), 3–21.
Morgan, P. (2005). Study on capacity, change and performance. Maastricht: ECDPM.
Nauwelaers, C., & Wintjes, R. (2003). Towards a new paradigm for innovation policy. In B. Asheim, A. Isaksen, C. C. E. M. G. Nauwelaers, & F. Totdling (Eds.), Regional innovation policy for small-medium enterprises (pp. 193–220). Northampton: Edward Elgar.
Núñez, Y. (2006). The Spanish eco-design standard. Implementation in SMEs. Proceedings of CIRP International Conference on Life Cycle Engineering. Leuven, Belgium.
O’Connor, F., & O’Rafferty, S. (2005). Developing a Welsh ecodesign initiative stage 1. Interim Report submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff. (unpublished, contact authors for details), Cardiff, UK.
O’Rafferty, S., O’Connor, F., & Cox, I. (2008). Supporting sustainable regional innovation and ecodesign in small to medium enterprises: A discussion on the issue with insights from Wales. Proceedings: Sustainable Consumption and Production: Framework for action, 10–11 March, 2008, Brussels, Belgium.
OECD. (2005). Oslo manual: Guidelines for collecting and interpreting innovation data (3rd ed.). Brussels: OECD Publishing.
Olundh, G. (2006). Modernising ecodesign: Ecodesign for innovative solutions. Stockholm: KTH Industrial Engineering and Management.
Patton, M. Q. (1997). Utilization-focused evaluation: The new century text. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Rennings, K., Kemp, R., Bartolomeo, M., Hemmelskamp, J., & Hitchens, D. (2004). Blueprints for an integration of science, technology and environmental policy (BLUEPRINT), Mannheim: Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW).
Scott-Kemmis, D., Holmen, M., & Balaguer, A. (2005). No simple solutions: How sectoral innovation systems can be transformed. Canberra: Australian National University.
Sherwin, C. (2004). Design and sustainability. The Journal of Sustainable Product Design, 4 (1), 21–31.
Smith, K. (2000). Innovation as a systemic phenomenon: Rethinking the role of policy. Enterprise and Innovation Management Studies, 1 (1), 73–102.
Swann, P., & Birke, D. (2005). How do creativity and design enhance business performance? London: DTI.
Tether, B. (2005). Think piece on the role of design in business performance. London: DTI.
Tukker, A., & Eder, P. (2000). Eco-design: Strategies for dissemination to SMEs. Pt. 2, Specific studies. Brussels: Joint Research Centre, European Commission.
Tukker, A., Ellen, G. J., & Eder, P. (2000). Eco-design: Strategies for dissemination to SMEs. Pt. 1, Overall Analysis and conclusions. Brussels: Joint Research Centre, European Commission.
Van Hemel, C., & Cramer, J. (2002). Barriers and stimuli for ecodesign in SMEs. Journal of Cleaner Production, 10 (5), 439–453.
Whyte, J. (2005). Management of creativity and design within the firm. London: DTI.
Wimmer, W., Züst, R., & Lee, K. (2004). ECODESIGN Implementation: A systematic guidance on integrating environmental considerations into product development. Austria: Springer.
Woolthuis, R., Lankhuizen, M., & Gilsing, V. (2005). A system failure framework for innovation policy design. Technovation, 25 (6), 609–619.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
O’Rafferty, S., O’Connor, F. (2010). Regional Perspectives on Capacity Building for Ecodesign – Insights from Wales. In: Sarkis, J., Cordeiro, J., Vazquez Brust, D. (eds) Facilitating Sustainable Innovation through Collaboration. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3159-4_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3159-4_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-3158-7
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-3159-4
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)