Maria Urbaniec

Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation,

Cracow University of Economics, Kraków, Poland

maria.urbaniec@uek.krakow.pl

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ECO- INNOVATIONS: DRIVERS

AND BARRIERS IN POLAND

Abstract. Eco-innovation plays an important role in the implementation of sustainable development. The overall objective of eco-innovation is to reduce impact on the environment, as well as to create new market opportunities, products, services or processes aimed at improving environmental performance. Eco-innovation generates changes not only in companies but also in their environment, i.e. within existing socio-cultural norms and institutional structures. The aim of this article is to identify how eco-innovations can support  sustainable development, as well as to analyze the possibilities and limitations of their implementation in Poland. The study shows that eco-innovations are interpreted in literature, not only – in general – as a tool for sustainable development, but also in terms of process and as a source of ecological and economic effects. The results of this analysis indicate that eco-innovation is a tool for sustainable development at the enterprise, society and state levels, which should be applied throughout the product or service life-cycle in order to contribute to the achievement of economic and environmental benefits. Its implementation is  dependent on numerous  drivers and barriers. In order to overcome current difficulties, significant support from the state is required because eco- innovations are associated with multiple barriers independent of companies. Eco-innovations can be supported by changes in the economic-political system.

Received: April, 2015

1st Revision: July, 2015

Accepted: November, 2015

DOI: 10.14254/2071-789X.2015/8-4/13

JEL Classification: O39, Q01, Q56

Keywords: sustainable development, green economy, eco- innovation, drivers, barriers.