Eco-innovations are commonly related to innovations that contribute towards environmental objectives of sustainable development (Rennings, 2020). Scholars often assume that (companies in ) developing and emerging economies have lesser degree of environmental performance and are less profitable [c.f. Horbach, in press]. However, recent evidence challenges the dominant status quo by showing examples of frontrunner companies in those latitudes offering profitable, environmentally sound, green(er) products. Available evidence reports a positive result in terms of knowledge accumulation in material efficiency strategies in emerging economies, above the average in Europe and the USA. To cite an example, UNEP (2014) reports a dozen of companies in emerging economies producing eco-innovative products and leading to growth rates between 10 to 40% in markets where incumbent companies may suffer stagnation. This paper attempts to fill a theoretical gap in the literature by providing a first approximation to dimensions for eco-innovation in the context of selected cases from emerging economies. The authors of this paper depart from the hypothesis that the higher degree of specialisation in emerging economies and its companies upstream the value chain shapes different features or dimensions explaining eco-innovation. Next, it is also proposed that the perceived effect of internal and external drivers to eco-innovation may depend on the framework conditions where companies operate, in developed or emerging economies. More concretely, the lesser external pressures (e.g. regulatory, social norms, etc.) the more the expected effect of internal drivers for eco-innovation (c.f. Montalvo 2002). For example, available studies (based on econometric evidence) have proposed that an international orientation of companies in Europe, say by having export markets or collaborating with foreign suppliers, have no positive effect on their environmental innovation activities (del Río et al., 2013, Chiarvesio et al., 2014). Counter-intuitively, such findings may be interpreted as if local markets (in Europe) are more suitable for eco-innovators, irrespectively of the country of origin of the company. A higher degree of formalization of institutions and better functioning of innovation systems is often used to explain such findings (c.f. Chaminade et al 2014; Villavicencio 2012). More over, empirical studies from countries such as Mexico or Brazil have reported that export activities and more stringent regulation is often perceived as a significant driver of eco-innovation (Dalcomuni, 1997, Diaz Lopez 2009). The above is partly explained by process of trade liberalization and enhanced regulatory frameworks leading to an eventual capability gap (c.f. Truffer et al 2012). In order to provide a first validation of the assumptions above described, this article presents a qualitative validation of cases of eco-innovations in particular emerging economies, namely Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa and Small Island States, e.g. Aruba. Using secondary sources of information three cases are evaluated using the eco-innovation framework proposed in Carrillo et al (2010). Furthermore, the authors of this paper focus on produce, service or product-service eco-innovations showing different maturity levels and degrees of disruption (incremental versus radical eco-innovation), which have faced several barriers to their development/adoption and are affected by different policies.
5c Sustainable Innovation and Transitions (zero emissions, new materials, recycling, IT, e
