Hardback
New Technologies and Environmental Innovation
In this insightful book, Joseph Huber investigates the life cycle analysis of technological and environmental innovations (TEIs). TEIs are new technologies, products and practices which have benign environmental effects and which can increase eco-efficiency. More importantly, they can also improve ‘metabolic consistency’, thus laying the foundations for a sustainable industrial ecology.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
In this insightful book, Joseph Huber investigates the life cycle analysis of technological and environmental innovations (TEIs). TEIs are new technologies, products and practices which have benign environmental effects and which can increase eco-efficiency. More importantly, they can also improve ‘metabolic consistency’, thus laying the foundations for a sustainable industrial ecology.
The author studies a large number of TEIs from a variety of diverse fields including energy, agriculture, chemistry, biotechnology, materials re/processing, construction, vehicles and consumer goods. He finds that TEIs can offer real and sustainable solutions to almost all of today’s environmental problems. However, for this to happen the author calls for a paradigm shift from ‘downstream’ to ‘upstream’ in the manufacturing chain and technologies’ life cycles, and a corresponding shift in environmental policy from command-and-control regulation to coordinated innovation.
By combining the sustainability approaches of ‘sufficiency’ and ‘eco-efficiency’ with the concept of ‘metabolic consistency’, this book opens up new horizons for ecological modernisation. It will prove valuable reading for academics and students of the social and technical sciences with an interest in environmental technology. Researchers and practitioners of industrial innovation will also gain useful insights, as will policymakers and environmental analysts in government, businesses and NGOs.
The author studies a large number of TEIs from a variety of diverse fields including energy, agriculture, chemistry, biotechnology, materials re/processing, construction, vehicles and consumer goods. He finds that TEIs can offer real and sustainable solutions to almost all of today’s environmental problems. However, for this to happen the author calls for a paradigm shift from ‘downstream’ to ‘upstream’ in the manufacturing chain and technologies’ life cycles, and a corresponding shift in environmental policy from command-and-control regulation to coordinated innovation.
By combining the sustainability approaches of ‘sufficiency’ and ‘eco-efficiency’ with the concept of ‘metabolic consistency’, this book opens up new horizons for ecological modernisation. It will prove valuable reading for academics and students of the social and technical sciences with an interest in environmental technology. Researchers and practitioners of industrial innovation will also gain useful insights, as will policymakers and environmental analysts in government, businesses and NGOs.
Critical Acclaim
‘The book is written clearly and comprehensively, and even the detailed technological explanations are interesting and well written for non-technicians. . . For all scholars and students who are interested in the sustainability debate, the book is an inspiration because of its convincing reasoning regarding the central role of TEIs, some compelling arguments about metabolically consistency, and the numerous well-investigated examples. All readers who are interested in conceptional and strategic considerations on environmental policy will enjoy the book.’
– Markus Pasche, Journal of Evolutionary Economics
‘Largely academic and government-policy focused, this book will be most useful to research and development (R&D) professionals and inventors looking over the horizon for new opportunities. Business people . . . will be rewarded with an eye-opening discussion of global environmental problems and the extensive changes in society and business that are necessary to solve them. In addition, they can expect a well-written description of the pros and cons of many emerging environmental technologies that will likely reshape our lives and businesses in the coming decades.’
– Jacquelyn A. Ottman, Journal of Product Innovation Management
‘Joseph Huber’s book contains a wealth of information on technological environmental innovations. The scrutiny of this material leads to powerful conclusions, with which scholars should concern themselves. Highly recommended.’
– René Kemp, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
‘This timely and impressive volume brings technology back into the centre of discussions and debates on environmental reform. In articulating an ecological modernisation perspective, Joseph Huber presents an inspiring, optimistic and at times provocative assessment of the potential and future role of radical technological innovations in greening production–consumption cycles.’
– Arthur P.J. Mol, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
– Markus Pasche, Journal of Evolutionary Economics
‘Largely academic and government-policy focused, this book will be most useful to research and development (R&D) professionals and inventors looking over the horizon for new opportunities. Business people . . . will be rewarded with an eye-opening discussion of global environmental problems and the extensive changes in society and business that are necessary to solve them. In addition, they can expect a well-written description of the pros and cons of many emerging environmental technologies that will likely reshape our lives and businesses in the coming decades.’
– Jacquelyn A. Ottman, Journal of Product Innovation Management
‘Joseph Huber’s book contains a wealth of information on technological environmental innovations. The scrutiny of this material leads to powerful conclusions, with which scholars should concern themselves. Highly recommended.’
– René Kemp, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
‘This timely and impressive volume brings technology back into the centre of discussions and debates on environmental reform. In articulating an ecological modernisation perspective, Joseph Huber presents an inspiring, optimistic and at times provocative assessment of the potential and future role of radical technological innovations in greening production–consumption cycles.’
– Arthur P.J. Mol, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Contributors
Contents
Contents: Part I: Technological Environmental Innovations (TEIs) 1. Introduction: Upstreaming Environmental Action 2. TEIs in Discourse Context 3. Environmental Innovation Discussed in More Detail 4. Trends and Visions of TEIs 5. Conclusions: Upstreaming Environmental Policy Part II: Innovation Life Cycle Analysis 6. Innovation: Definitions and Distinctions 7. The Innovation Life Cycle 8. Selective Dynamics: Connectivity and Timeliness 9. Interactive Dynamics: Cooperation and Competition 10. Location Matters: Regional Clusters and National Innovation Systems Appendix: Systematcs of Technological Environmental Innovations References Index
