Eco-innovations (EIs), defined as innovations that reduce the environmental impact of consumption and production activities, play a very relevant role in the quest for more competitive and environmentally sustainable... [ view full abstract ]
Eco-innovations (EIs), defined as innovations that reduce the environmental impact of consumption and production activities, play a very relevant role in the quest for more competitive and environmentally sustainable economies (Machiba, 2010; Carrillo-Hermosilla et al., 2010). Therefore, identifying their main determinants can help policy-makers to implement instruments which are effective and efficient to promote EI and businesses to eco-innovate (del Río et al 2016). Substantial research on the drivers of EI has been carried out (see, del Río et al 2016, Horbach et al 2012, Díaz-García et al 2015). A critical review of the literature suggests that the set of potential explanatory variables for the analysis of the determinants to EI is large and there is no standard method to choose those variables (del Río et al 2016). The combination of those approaches suggests that firms are influenced by internal (resources and capabilities) and external factors (e.g., public policy and stakeholder impacts) when taking the decision to eco-innovate (del Río 2009). In particular, the role of resources, competences and dynamic capabilities (RCCs) in driving EI has not been researched in a systematic manner (del Río et al 2016). This paper aims to fill this gap. First, a thorough literature review was conducted in order to identify contributions in the contexts of the Resource-based View (firm antecedents) and EIs. A series of hypothesis about their interrelation were deduced for empirical testing. In total, 219 contributions describing firm antecedents guided the creation of quantifiable variables. The constructs (variables) to quantify the RCCs are not comprehensively included in any dataset. It was therefore necessary to carry out a specialized survey. The target universe consisted of 2821 Spanish industrial SMEs. Spain was chosen because its specific features with respect to North European countries where EI studies have been carried out: a weaker national innovation system (OECD, 2012), lower rigor in ecological regulations (Blanke and Chiesa, 2013) and a lower disposition to pay “green” price premiums (EC, 2011). Also, Spain has some unique features favoring the development of EI (Del Río et al., 2015). Regarding the measurement of RCCs for EI, Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) have been undertaken. The results of this step led to a set of RCCs for EI. Then, the relations between firm-level RCCs (results of EFA) and the different EI types were identified through Multinomial Logistic Regression Analyses. Regarding the RCCs in eco-innovative firms, in some but not all cases, the results show the particularity of Spanish industrial SMEs because they differ significantly from what was anticipated in the previous literature. Regarding the relationship between these RCCs and the EI types, our analyses show that different types of EI are associated with different drivers and barriers. In particular the systemic and radical EIs differ considerably from continuous improvement EIs in this context. Overall, these results allow us to infer some policy implications for both public and private decision makers. Since the drivers and barriers differ across EI types, the policy measures to encourage different EI types should also be different, in case governments would like to promote a given EI type. On the other hand, these results inform companies about which RCCs are drivers and barriers to certain types of EI. This way, they gain the knowledge to train and qualify themselves for their development.
Eco-innovation; Drivers; Barriers; Spain; resource-based view
5a. Corporate sustainability and CSR
