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How Does Sustainability Help or Hinder Innovation?

A Study of Successful Companies Founded on Sustainability Principles

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Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2016 (SDM 2016)

Part of the book series: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ((SIST,volume 52))

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Abstract

This research analysed how sustainability impacts innovation in industry. Qualitative data was collected during interviews with employees from seven companies founded on sustainability principles. The data includes numerous examples of successful and unsuccessful sustainable design and manufacturing initiatives. Research findings indicate that improved packaging, eco-efficiency and the exploration of more sustainable solutions for standard products are fuelled by companies’ sustainability principles and successfully drive innovation. Whereas the supply of sustainable materials and trade-offs between sustainability and desirable material properties, as well as costs, represent challenges which can hinder innovation.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Their business recycles such items by turning them into products.

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Correspondence to Vivian Tunn .

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Tunn, V., Dekoninck, E. (2016). How Does Sustainability Help or Hinder Innovation?. In: Setchi, R., Howlett, R., Liu, Y., Theobald, P. (eds) Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2016. SDM 2016. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 52. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32098-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32098-4_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-32096-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-32098-4

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