Measuring environmental (eco-) innovation

Monitoring progress towards environmental sustainability requires measurement of eco-innovation and outcomes, as determined by the absolute level of air, soil and water pollutants. In addition to the OECD Manual’s (4th edition) identification of product and process innovation, eco-innovation includes changes to business models, systemic eco-innovation with multiple actors reducing emissions, social eco-innovation, and innovations for environmental restoration. In addition to measurement of drivers and barriers, inputs, outputs and outcomes, measurement of eco-innovation requires indicators for eco-innovation policy and its enforcement, as well as social well-being to ensure that eco-innovation does not result in unintended negative outcomes such as increased inequality. A graphical model of eco-innovation includes these factors and their linkages. Data collection can use representative surveys, analysis of existing data such as patents and bibliometrics, and data mining of internet sources. An example is provided of data requirements for measuring systemic innovation for a circular economy.

Rammer, Christian, René Kemp and Anthony Arundel (2023), Measuring environmental (eco-) innovation, in: Fred Gault, Anthony Arundel, Erika Kraemer-Mbula (Eds.), Second Edition, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, Northampton, 177-196