Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sustainability-Oriented Innovation

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility

Synonyms

Sustainability innovation; Sustainability-driven innovation; Sustainability-related innovation; Sustainable development innovation; Sustainable innovation

Definition

The commercial introduction of a new (or improved) product (service), product-service system, or pure service which – based on a traceable (qualitative or quantitative) comparative analysis – leads to environmental and/or social benefits over the prior version’s physical life-cycle (“from cradle to grave”).

Introduction

The importance of business practices to solve present sustainability issues, such as climate change, environmental degradation, and social inequalities has been emphasized in literature for quite some time (Elkington 1992; Hart and Prahalad 2002; Yunus and Weber 2007; Porter and Kramer 2011). From a business perspective, the areas of corporate sustainability, corporate responsibility, and corporate social responsibility(CSR) all seek to address these issues by transcending the core...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,600.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,599.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References and Readings

  • Arnold, M. G., & Hockerts, K. (2010). The greening dutchman: Philips‘ process of green flagging to drive sustainable innovations. Business Strategy and the Environment, 20(6), 394–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold, M. G., Siebenhüner, B., & Hoffmann, E. (2007). INNOCOPE – ein partizipatives Produktentwicklungsverfahren. Konzept, Erprobung und Reflexion. In Gesellschaftliches Lernen und Nachhaltigkeit (pp. 247–272). Marburg, Germany: Metropolis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baines, T. S., Lightfoot, H. W., Evans, S., Neely, A., Greenough, R., Peppard, J., Roy, R., Shehab, E., Braganza, A., & Tiwari, A. (2007). State-of-the-art in product-service systems. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 221(10), 1543–1552.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belz, F.-M., & Peattie, K., (2009). Sustainability marketing: A global perspective. Wiley, Chichester, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blomquist, T., & Sandström, J. (2004). From issues to checkpoints and back: Managing green issues in R&D. Business Strategy and the Environment, 13(6), 363–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brezet, H. (1997). Dynamics in eco-design practice. Industry and Environment, 20(1–2), 21–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bright, D., & Seville, D. (2010). Think big. Go small: Adapting business models to incorporate smallholders into supply chains. Oxford: Oxfam International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesbrough, H. W. (2003). Open innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology. Boston: Harvard Business Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesbrough, H. (2007). Business model innovation: It’s not just about technology anymore. Strategy & Leadership, 35(6), 12–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, R. G. (1990). Stage-gate systems: A new tool for managing new products. Business Horizons, 33(3), 44–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, R. G. (2001). Winning at new products: Accelerating the process from idea to launch. Cambridge MA: Perseus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crossan, M. M., & Apaydin, M. (2010). A multi-dimensional framework of organizational innovation: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Management Studies, 47(6), 1154–1191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deiglmeier, K., & Miller, D. T. (2008). Rediscovering social innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 6(4), 34–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyllick, T., & Hockerts, K. (2002). Beyond the business case for corporate sustainability. Business Strategy and the Environment, 11(2), 130–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elkington, J. (1992). Towards the sustainable corporation: Win-win-win business strategies for sustainable development. California Management Review, 36(2), 90–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichter, K., & Paech, N. (2004). Nachhaltigkeitsorientiertes Innovationsmanagement: Prozessgestaltung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Internet-Nutzungen: Endbericht der Basisstudie 4 des vom BMF geförderten Vorhabens “SUstainable Markets eMERge” (SUMMER). Univ., Lehrstuhl für Allg. Betriebswirtschaftslehre, Unternehmensführung und Betriebliche Umweltpolitik.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, J. K., Daneke, G. A., & Lenox, M. J. (2010). Sustainable development and entrepreneurship: Past contributions and future directions. Journal of Business Venturing, 25(5), 439–448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, E. G., Grosse-Dunker, F., & Reichwald, R. (2009). Sustainability innovation cube: A framework to evaluate sustainability-oriented innovations. International Journal of Innovation Management, 13(4), 683–713.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, E. G., Gomm, M. L., Bullinger, A. C., & Möslein, K. M. (2010). A community-based toolkit for designing ride-sharing services: The case of a virtual network of ride access points in Germany. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 5(1), 80–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, E. G., Bullinger, A. C., & Reichwald, R. (2011). Sustainability innovation contests: Evaluating contributions with an eco impact-innovativeness typology. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 5(2), 221–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, S. (1997). Beyond greening: Strategies for a sustainable world. Harvard Business Review, 75(1), 66–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, S., & Prahalad, C. K. (2002). The fortune at the bottom of the pyramid. Strategy + Business, 26, 54–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, S. L., & Milstein, M. (2003). Creating sustainable value. Academy of Management Executive, 17(2), 56–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herring, H., & Roy, R. (2007). Technological innovation, energy efficient design and the rebound effect. Technovation, 27(4), 194–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hockerts, K., & Morsing, M. (2008). A literature review on corporate social responsibility in the innovation process. Copenhagen Business School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hockerts, K., & Wüstenhagen, R. (2010). Greening Goliaths versus emerging Davids–Theorizing about the role of incumbents and new entrants in sustainable entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing, 25(5), 481–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, E. (2007). Consumer integration in sustainable product development. Business Strategy and the Environment, 16(5), 322–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khaire, M., Aichinger, S., Hoffmann, M., & Schnoedl, M. (2012). Zotter – Living by chocolate. Harvard Teaching Case, 9-810-091: Harvard Business School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klewitz, J., Zeyen, A., & Hansen, E. G. (2012). Intermediaries driving eco-innovation in SMEs: A qualitative investigation. European Journal of Innovation Management, 15(4), 442–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang-Koetz, C., Beucker, S., & Heubach, D. (2009). Estimating environmental impact in the early stages of the product innovation process. In S. Schaltegger, M. Bennett, R. L. Burritt, & C. Jasch (Eds.), Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science: Vol. 24. Environmental Management Accounting for Cleaner Production (pp. 49–64). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Louche, C., Idowu, S. O., & Leal Filho, W. (2010). Innovative CSR: From risk management to value creation. Sheffield: Greenleaf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, D., & Van der Vorst, R. (2003). Developing sustainable products and services. Journal of Cleaner Production, 11(8), 883–895.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mont, O. (2001). Introducing and developing a Product-Service System (PSS) concept in Sweden. (IIIEE Reports, No. 2001:6). Lund, Sweden: IIIEE, Lund University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mont, O., & Tukker, A. (2006). Product-Service Systems: Reviewing achievements and refining the research agenda. Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(17), 1451–1454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paech, N. (2004). Nachhaltigkeitsinnovation – ein Widerspruch in sich? In D. Dietzfelbinger (Ed.), Nachhaltige Entwicklung: Grundlage einer neuen Wirtschaftsethik (pp. 155–171): Vol. 12. DNWE-Schriftenreihe. Munich/Mering: Hampp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paech, N. (2007). Directional certainty in sustainability-oriented innovation management. In M. Lehmann-Waffenschmidt (Ed.), Innovations Towards Sustainability, pp. 121–139. Heidelberg, New York: Physica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plieth, H., Bullinger, A. C., & Hansen, E. G. (2012). Sustainable entrepreneurship in the apparel industry – The case of manomama. Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 45, 121–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2011). The big idea: Creating shared value. Harvard Business Review, 89(1–2), 62–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rennings, K. (2000). Redefining innovation – Eco-innovation research and the contribution from ecological economics. Ecological Economics, 32(2), 319–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S. (2002). A framework for ecopreneurship. Greener Management International, 38, 45–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S., & Wagner, M. (2011). Sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainability innovation: Categories and interactions. Business Strategy and the Environment, 20(4), 222–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S., Lüdeke-Freund, F., & Hansen, E. G. (2012). Business cases for sustainability: The role of business model innovation for corporate sustainability. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 6(2), 95–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stubbs, W., & Cocklin, C. (2008). An ecological modernist interpretation of sustainability: The case of Interface Inc. Business Strategy and the Environment, 17(8), 512–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tidd, J., Bessant, J. R., & Pavitt, K. (2009). Managing innovation: Integrating technological, market and organizational change. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tukker, A. (2004). Eight types of product–service system: Eight ways to sustainability? Experiences from SusProNet. Business Strategy and the Environment, 13(4), 246–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tukker, A., & Tischner, U. (2006). New business for old Europe. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2(2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, M., & Llerena, P. (2008). Drivers for sustainability-related innovation: A Qualitative analysis of renewable resources, industrial products and travel services, Working Papers (2008–22) of BETA, Strasbourg, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yunus, M., & Weber, K. (2007). Creating a world without poverty: Social business and the future of capitalism. New York: Public Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM), Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststr. 1, D-21335, Lüneburg, Germany

    Dr. Erik G. Hansen

  2. Dark Horse GmbH, Ritterstr. 12-14, D-10969, Berlin, Germany

    Friedrich Große-Dunker

Authors
  1. Dr. Erik G. Hansen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Friedrich Große-Dunker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erik G. Hansen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. London Metropolitan Business School, London Metropolitan University, Moorgate, London, UK

    Samuel O. Idowu

  2. Loyala University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Nicholas Capaldi

  3. International Labor Organization, International Training Center, Viale Maestri del Lavoro, Turin, Italy

    Liangrong Zu

  4. Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore, India

    Ananda Das Gupta

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Hansen, E.G., Große-Dunker, F. (2013). Sustainability-Oriented Innovation. In: Idowu, S.O., Capaldi, N., Zu, L., Gupta, A.D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28036-8_552

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28036-8_552

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-28035-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-28036-8

  • eBook Packages: Business and Economics

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation