Project Sustainable

Design Management
Eco-design in innovation driven companies:
perception, predictions and the main drivers of
integration. The Spanish example
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2011
10/26/11

Outline
Introduction
Material

and methods
Results and discussion
Policy to foster eco-design
Conclusions

Introduction
Environmental factors are seen as opportunities to drive
business efficiencies, stimulate innovation, reduce costs,
improve brand positioning and enhance communications.
Companies with env. lens are more innovative and
entrepreneurial.
The aim of this paper
Investigate connection between innovation driven
companies and eco-design.
Assess eco-design implementation and integration in the
supply chain.
Determine the drivers and future of eco-design
implementation.

Material and methods

Questionnaire inquiry in three main areas:

Perception(): drivers, obstacles and environmental,
eco-design and innovation attitudes.
Reality: specific eco-design strategies towards sustainability
and the application stage in the supply chain.
Future: predictions on eco-design in the innovation
framework.
Respondents: 10,032 survey sent out, 1,256 returned, 12.52%
response rate.
846 complete, 8.4%
Location: Spain

Details of
respondents

Results and discussion

Perception: drivers, obstacles and environmental,

eco-design and innovation attitudes. Driving
elements for incorporating environmental criterion
into strategic plans.

Main reasons for incorporating environmental

criteria into strategic plans

Determinants for integrating

environmental criteria and company size

Obstacles to the integration

Perception about their companies attitude

towards sustainability

10

Labeling their companys attitude

11

 Reality:

specific eco-design strategies,

by cluster

12

Future: More than 90% of respondents believe that

innovation could be a future catalyst for the
integration of eco-design in companies

13

Value chain activities regarding innovation and

eco-design that could be hybridized ()

14

Policy recommendation to foster eco-design

Governmental support
Creation of an independent governmental body for
the promotion of eco-design
Implementation of economic support programs for
companies
Greening of public procurement.
Organization of competitions, awards and grants in
recognition of leading eco-design projects

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Policy recommendation to foster eco-design

Tools and education

Creation of free eco-design tools
Implement training on eco-design in university
degrees and research centers
Promotion of sustainable criteria among designers
and foster their collaboration with businesses
Development of a strong eco- labeling system
Dissemination of eco-design to citizenship

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Conclusions
Identified a link between innovation performance and
eco-design practices
Respondents perception, reality and vision of the
future have specificities regarding company size,
activity or the respondents position
Companies are aware of new strategies for their
products, processes and services and new ways of
delivering and capturing value to change the basis of
competitiveness.

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