Abstract
This thesis analyses the innovation effects of environmental policies by examining both policy and company levels. The research examines the mechanisms through which environmental policies affect innovations, and how variation within and between organisations responding to policies influences the policy effects. Thus the thesis endeavours to explain how the context surrounding policies and innovations varies in the Nordic pulp and paper industry, and why environmental policies sometimes fail to support innovation. The thesis also provides information on how policies could better support environmental innovation. To achieve these objectives, a perspective combining policy, technology, and organisation and management studies is adopted. The policy effects are studied as one among many determinants influencing innovation processes, following the idea of the innovation systems literature. The case study research approach comprises twelve cases of technological innovations and inventions, both processes and products, in the Nordic pulp and paper industry. The innovation cases are complemented by an analysis of how environmental considerations are integrated into product development in four large paper and packaging companies, and by one policy case examining the integration of environmental considerations into Finnish technology policies. The Nordic pulp and paper industry presents an extremely interesting empirical case for the study as
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Citation Formats
Kivimaa, P.
The innovation effects of environmental policies. Linking policies, companies and innovations in the Nordic pulp and paper industry.
Finland: N. p.,
2008.
Web.
Kivimaa, P.
The innovation effects of environmental policies. Linking policies, companies and innovations in the Nordic pulp and paper industry.
Finland.
Kivimaa, P.
2008.
"The innovation effects of environmental policies. Linking policies, companies and innovations in the Nordic pulp and paper industry."
Finland.
@misc{etde_1008043,
title = {The innovation effects of environmental policies. Linking policies, companies and innovations in the Nordic pulp and paper industry}
author = {Kivimaa, P}
abstractNote = {This thesis analyses the innovation effects of environmental policies by examining both policy and company levels. The research examines the mechanisms through which environmental policies affect innovations, and how variation within and between organisations responding to policies influences the policy effects. Thus the thesis endeavours to explain how the context surrounding policies and innovations varies in the Nordic pulp and paper industry, and why environmental policies sometimes fail to support innovation. The thesis also provides information on how policies could better support environmental innovation. To achieve these objectives, a perspective combining policy, technology, and organisation and management studies is adopted. The policy effects are studied as one among many determinants influencing innovation processes, following the idea of the innovation systems literature. The case study research approach comprises twelve cases of technological innovations and inventions, both processes and products, in the Nordic pulp and paper industry. The innovation cases are complemented by an analysis of how environmental considerations are integrated into product development in four large paper and packaging companies, and by one policy case examining the integration of environmental considerations into Finnish technology policies. The Nordic pulp and paper industry presents an extremely interesting empirical case for the study as it has been important for the historic and economic development of Finland and Sweden, and has recently experienced significant changes in its operational environment influencing its future innovation potential. The sector is characterised by fairly significant achievements in environmental process innovation, developed collaboratively in networks of public and private organisations, often in response to environmental policy. By contrast, environmental product innovations and the focus of environmental policies on products have been rarer. Recently, internationalisation and consolidation of companies, globalising paper markets, and decreasing R and D investments have transformed the innovation context in this sector. The findings of the thesis show that the ways in which environmental policies influence innovations can be divided into six categories: responsive effect, anticipatory effect, two-way effect, indirect effect, negative effect and no influence. Variations in how environmental policies affect innovations are explained by the heterogeneity of public policy, the variety of ways in which organisations respond to environmental policies, and changes and inertia in market conditions and technological systems. Thus, factors related to policies, organisations, markets and technological systems have conditioned the innovation effects of environmental policies in the Nordic pulp and paper industry. Environmental policies alert companies to the environmental improvements required. The study emphasises the importance of acknowledging organisational variation in policy studies. Environmental policies have two important roles from an innovation perspective: to facilitate innovation within dominant technological systems, and also to keep options open for other innovations to emerge outside the boundaries of the existing systems. Evaluations of current policies and policy system are needed to identify inconsistent policies and potential barriers to innovation. From an innovation perspective, for example, policies specifying particular technologies to be used, not allowing testing of innovations and having too lax requirements may create innovation barriers. Thus new and revised environmental policies should incorporate flexibility to alternative solutions and should be foreseeable, consistent with other policies and to a degree binding to best support innovation by enhancing markets for environmentally improved products and technologies}
journal = []
issue = {329}
volume = {16}
place = {Finland}
year = {2008}
month = {Jul}
}
title = {The innovation effects of environmental policies. Linking policies, companies and innovations in the Nordic pulp and paper industry}
author = {Kivimaa, P}
abstractNote = {This thesis analyses the innovation effects of environmental policies by examining both policy and company levels. The research examines the mechanisms through which environmental policies affect innovations, and how variation within and between organisations responding to policies influences the policy effects. Thus the thesis endeavours to explain how the context surrounding policies and innovations varies in the Nordic pulp and paper industry, and why environmental policies sometimes fail to support innovation. The thesis also provides information on how policies could better support environmental innovation. To achieve these objectives, a perspective combining policy, technology, and organisation and management studies is adopted. The policy effects are studied as one among many determinants influencing innovation processes, following the idea of the innovation systems literature. The case study research approach comprises twelve cases of technological innovations and inventions, both processes and products, in the Nordic pulp and paper industry. The innovation cases are complemented by an analysis of how environmental considerations are integrated into product development in four large paper and packaging companies, and by one policy case examining the integration of environmental considerations into Finnish technology policies. The Nordic pulp and paper industry presents an extremely interesting empirical case for the study as it has been important for the historic and economic development of Finland and Sweden, and has recently experienced significant changes in its operational environment influencing its future innovation potential. The sector is characterised by fairly significant achievements in environmental process innovation, developed collaboratively in networks of public and private organisations, often in response to environmental policy. By contrast, environmental product innovations and the focus of environmental policies on products have been rarer. Recently, internationalisation and consolidation of companies, globalising paper markets, and decreasing R and D investments have transformed the innovation context in this sector. The findings of the thesis show that the ways in which environmental policies influence innovations can be divided into six categories: responsive effect, anticipatory effect, two-way effect, indirect effect, negative effect and no influence. Variations in how environmental policies affect innovations are explained by the heterogeneity of public policy, the variety of ways in which organisations respond to environmental policies, and changes and inertia in market conditions and technological systems. Thus, factors related to policies, organisations, markets and technological systems have conditioned the innovation effects of environmental policies in the Nordic pulp and paper industry. Environmental policies alert companies to the environmental improvements required. The study emphasises the importance of acknowledging organisational variation in policy studies. Environmental policies have two important roles from an innovation perspective: to facilitate innovation within dominant technological systems, and also to keep options open for other innovations to emerge outside the boundaries of the existing systems. Evaluations of current policies and policy system are needed to identify inconsistent policies and potential barriers to innovation. From an innovation perspective, for example, policies specifying particular technologies to be used, not allowing testing of innovations and having too lax requirements may create innovation barriers. Thus new and revised environmental policies should incorporate flexibility to alternative solutions and should be foreseeable, consistent with other policies and to a degree binding to best support innovation by enhancing markets for environmentally improved products and technologies}
journal = []
issue = {329}
volume = {16}
place = {Finland}
year = {2008}
month = {Jul}
}