It is clear that the economic challenges Europe is currently facing are not cyclical, but of a structural nature. The existing organisation of production in Europe is not equipped to face a global climate of slow demand growth and price volatility for resources.
Without change, the EU will inevitably become less competitive, less attractive and less economically viable. Making changes now and into the future to a more circular, resource efficient economic model is not without risk. However, as the developing world continues along linear growth path, the EU and its Member States have the opportunity to reinvent their economies and make them globally competitive. And systemic eco-innovation is at the heart of the paradigm shift which is needed.
The report, From Niche to Norm, provides the experts' view on the opportunities offered by a 'systemic approach to eco-innovation and circular economy' in terms of jobs, growth, and resource efficiency in Europe. The report includes a roadmap of Research & Innovation, and suggests actions to be implemented in the years to come.
The aim of this paper is to provide a critical review of the literature on the econometric analyses of firm-level determinants to eco-innovation. The review reveals some gaps in knowledge.
Eco-innovation has been identified as one of the key drivers of change that need to be harnessed for a sustainable future. Given the complexity of eco-innovation as a concept, there are various challenges to measuring its progress.