Eco-innovation: European trends and regional
action tools
RECOMMEND workshop
Peterborough
27 November 2012
Eco-innovation trends in Europe
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What is eco-innovation?
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What is eco-innovation?
Eco-innovation is any innovation that
reduces the use of natural resources
(including materials, energy, water, biomass
and land) and decreases the release of
harmful substances across its whole lifecycle.
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What is eco-innovation?
Eco-innovation is any innovation that
reduces the use of natural resources
and decreases the release of harmful
substances across its whole life-cycle.
impact on environment
(resources and emissions)
impact on economy
(turnover, profit, sales,
exports, jobs)
impact on society
(jobs, quality of life)
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Why eco-innovation?
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Why eco-innovation?
The EU has achieved a relative
de-coupling of GDP growth from
material use. The absolute level of
consumption has continued to grow
in the same time.
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Why eco-innovation?
• Saving material and energy costs
• New products and services: new markets
• New business models
• Sustainable management of resources
• Tackling climate change
• Improving biodiversity
•Decrease the environmental footprint
• Quality of life and green jobs
• Resource justice
economy
environment
social
politics
• Material security
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EU Eco-innovation scoreboard 2012
EI Leaders
Good EI achievers
Average EI performers
Countries catching up in EI
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EU Eco-Innovation scoreboard breakdown
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Eco-innovators in the EU (CIS 2008)
Share of companies reporting reduced material use per unit of output as a result
of innovation (red) and share of companies with any innovation activity (black)
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Eco-innovators in the EU (Eurobarometer 2011)
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45% of companies in Europe in manufacturing, construction,
agriculture, water and food services have introduced at least one ecoinnovation in the past two years (Eurobarometer 2011)
Result of innovation introduced in company in (the past 24 months) in
terms of resource efficiency?
2% 2%
10%
10%
34%
42%
More than 60% reduction of
material use per unit output
Between 40% to 60% reduction of
material use per unit output
Between 20% to 39% reduction of
material use per unit output
Between 5% to 19% reduction of
material use per unit output
Less then 5% reduction of
material use per unit output
DK/NA
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Benefits from eco-innovation DEMEA
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Material efficiency improvements in companies advised by
DEMEA (German Material Efficiency Agency) could lead on
average to € 200,000 savings per company. The savings could be
achieved with an investment of under €10,000 in nearly half of the
companies covered by the scheme (Demea 2010)
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Eco-innovation trends
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•
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•
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Eco-innovation activity is widespread among European companies
Eco-innovation can lead to a substantial reduction
of material cost of companies
There is a high degree of diversity in EU in terms of eco-innovation
performance
Majority of EU companies report incremental eco-innovations
Strong eco-innovation performance does not automatically lead to
strong environmental performance in absolute terms
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How can regions support the
development of eco-innovation?
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Approaches to regional eco-innovation support
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Although competences and responsiblities vary significantly from
one country to another, regions are legitimate stakeholders:
• Regions can play a role as consumer (e.g. energy and
implementation of energy saving activities, green public
procurement);
• Regions may be local producers and supplier of services & utilities
(e.g. heating and energy solutions)
• Regions may play a role as regulators, setting standards and local
laws
• Regions can play a role as as motivator and facilitator, inspiring
and supporting the adoption of eco-innovative practices
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Approaches to eco-innovation at the regional level
Sectors
Issues
Ecoinnovation
Targets
Processes
Techs
Policies
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Typology of eco-innovation policy support instruments
Criteria
Groups
Funding mode
Non financial
Financial: guarantees, loans, fiscal incentives, grants/subsidies/vouchers, venture capital
Position of
support in
innovation chain
Supply side focus: Equity/business support, support for R&D: basic research, support for R&D:
applied research, support for R&D: development & demonstration; education, training and mobility;
networks and partnerships
Demand side focus: Regulations and standards; Public procurement; Guarantees & other support
for additional risks of early buyers; Export promotion activities; Support for private demand
Specificity for
eco-innovation
Relevant for EI but EI not specifically focused
Focused on eco-innovation (but applicable in other areas of innovation)
Only possible in area of EI (e.g. regulation)
Thematic focus
Generic
Focused one environmental issue: Resource efficiency, Energy efficiency
Focused on environmental management processes: Eco-management, eco-design
Other
Measurement/ benchmark instrument, Eco-innovation strategies, Eco-innovative solutions (product,
process, technology), eco-innovation assessment tools
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Thank you
Carlos Hinojosa
Technopolis Group
carlos.hinojosa@technopolis-group.com
technopolis |group| has offices in Amsterdam, Ankara, Brighton,
Brussels, Frankfurt/Main, Paris, Stockholm, Tallinn and Vienna
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