Measuring eco-innovation
Anthony Arundel & René Kemp
#2009-017
In this paper we offer a discussion of eco-innovation and methods for
measuring it. Eco-innovation is a new concept of great importance to
business and policy makers, covering many innovations of environmental
benefit. Past research and measurement activity primarily focused on
pollution control and abatement activities or on the environmental goods
and services sector. We argue that eco-innovation research and data
collection should not be limited to such environmentally motivated
innovations, but should encompass all products, processes, or
organizational innovations with environmental benefits. Attention should
be broadened to include innovation in or oriented towards resource use,
energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, waste minimization, reuse
and recycling, new materials (for example nanotechnology-based) and
eco-design. Research should cover the drivers, patterns, and benefits of
eco-innovation for each of these applications, since these factors are
likely to differ. For measuring eco-innovation, no single method or
indicator is likely to be sufficient. In general, one should therefore
apply different methods for analyzing eco-innovation – to see the “whole
elephant” instead of just a part. More effort should be devoted towards
direct measurement of eco-innovation outputs using documentary and
digital sources to complement the current emphasis on innovation inputs
such as R&D or patents. Innovation can also be measured indirectly from
changes in resource efficiency and productivity. These two avenues are
underexplored and should be given more attention in order to augment our
rather narrow knowledge basis.
Keywords: eco-innovation, measurement, indicators, data needs.
JEL codes O1 en O3
UNU-MERIT Working Papers
ISSN 1871-9872