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Since the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established in 2015, scientists have attempted to utilize them for sustainability assessments. This paper aims to synthesize the existing approaches in order to make recommendations for future utilization. A systematic literature review was conducted, focusing on innovations as the assessment object and including scientific papers as well as gray literature. Of the initially identified 603 documents, 30 articles contained precise descriptions of approaches utilizing the SDGs for the sustainability assessment of innovations. These approaches were analyzed in three sequential steps: categorization of the operational choices of SDG-based sustainability assessments, discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of these operational choices, and finally deriving recommendations for future utilization. We identified two main approaches: (1) integrating the SDGs into the sustainability assessment methodology or (2) subsequently assigning the assessment results to the SDGs. For the first approach, the SDGs were most frequently used as assessment criteria, but were also used to derive benchmarks or select indicators. In the second approach, assessment results were linked to goals, targets or indicators. The majority but not all articles clearly stated that all 17 SDGs were considered. The most frequently mentioned motivation for SDG utilization was to provide a holistic definition of sustainable development, followed by providing a precise description of sustainable development and international recognition. Only the integration of all 17 SDGs into the sustainability assessment conveys all three of these motivations. Hence, this approach is recommended for maximizing the utilization of SDGs when assessing the sustainability of an innovation. Subsequently assigning the assessment results to the SDGs is suggested as an alternative approach if the scientist's time and resources are limited. Since this approach predefines the SDGs that can be linked through the sustainability assessment methodology utilized, the holistic character of the SDGs is forfeited. More generally, the diversity of approaches found in the literature can be explained by several individual limitations and prerequisites. It is therefore recommended that authors document their research motivation transparently and justify the operational choices they made to fulfil it. This study contributes to the scientific community by (a) providing an overview of possible approaches for utilizing the SDGs in sustainability assessments of innovations and (b) providing recommendations for utilization based on a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages. [Display omitted] • Sustainability assessments of innovations utilizing SDGs were systematically reviewed. • Operational choices in SDG utilization were categorized. • More than 10 (sub-)categories of SDG utilization were identified. • Most frequent reason for utilizing SDGs is their holistic nature. • Holistic nature is transferred only by integrating all 17 SDGs into the assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating innovation strategies plays an essential role for supporting sustainable development of the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling industry. This requires the incorporation of the sustainability concept into the strategy evaluation process, which becomes complicated when sustainability-related evaluation criteria have complementary and substitutive interactions. This paper proposes a novel framework to facilitate systematic identification of sustainability-related criteria by integrating the triple-bottom-line (TBL) principle of sustainability and the model of benefits, opportunities, costs, and risks (BOCR). A capacity-based multicriteria decision making (MCDM) approach is developed to evaluate innovation strategies with respect to interacting sustainability-related criteria. Equipped with a new weighting model for interacting criteria on a multi-level hierarchy, the approach can obtain an overall contribution value for each innovation strategy. To illustrate the BOCR-TBL framework and the capacity-based MCDM approach, an empirical study on an innovation strategy evaluation problem of an Australian WEEE recycling company is conducted. This paper makes conceptual and methodological contributions to sustainability and MCDM research and contributes to the WEEE recycling industry by providing a structured methodology for innovation strategy evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines what drives green innovation investment and exploitation with regard to sustainability. The specific focus of this paper is on company valuations of different dimensions of sustainability and their relationships to green innovation. Empirical data were gathered from a cross-section of horse industry companies located in Finland. The scientific value of the paper lies in showing that certain dimensions of sustainability lead to the exploitation of and investment in green innovation, while other dimensions do not. The results of this study's regression analyses show that the more a company values economic, institutional, and social sustainability, the more likely it is to invest in green innovation. Further, a high valuation of institutional and economic sustainability increases the willingness to exploit green innovation. The valuation of environmental sustainability was not found to affect the willingness to invest in or exploit green innovation. Our results suggest that green innovation is driven by economic and institutional pressures, and that such innovation can create value in terms of social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast majority of supply-chain literature has focused on supply chain management, innovation and sustainability, separately. However, little supply-chain research focuses on innovation under the supply chain context, which is expected to deliver a sustainable outcome. Is it a great research opportunity to explore or a subject unworthy of studying? This paper offers a systematic literature review considering 107 related papers published from 1996 to 2014. In this review, both descriptive and thematic analyses demonstrate it to be a great research opportunity worthy of exploring. A conceptual framework containing the definition of sustainable supply chain innovation (SSCI) and its distinctive characteristics are proposed and identified. Furthermore, some opportunities for the research in future, such as antecedents to SSCI, are suggested and discussed in this paper. Both academics and practitioners in companies might find this review useful as it stimulates further research and guides sustainable supply chain innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the interaction among innovation, tourism, and climate change has become a point of focus recently. This study examines the impact of innovation and tourism development on the sustainable development of the G7 economies. Panel data from 2000 to 2019 was analyzed for cross-sectional dependency, and a series of panel unit root tests were used to confirm the variables' unit root properties. Pedroni and Kao's tests confirm the cointegration relationship among the variables. The fully modified OLS and dynamic OLS results show that higher economic prosperity and lower environmental pollution are associated with innovation as measured in scientific publications and patents, highlighting the importance of innovation. The results highlight the positive significant impact of tourism arrivals on pollution reduction and economic expansion, which mark the steps for sustainable development. The study finds further evidence that asylum refugees did not positively contribute to economic prosperity, nor were they active in the environmental correction plans of the countries. The level of education provides strong evidence supporting sustainable development by encouraging economic growth and discouraging environmental degradation. Overall, the results recommend raising the level of innovation, tourism development, and higher technical education for the sustainable development of the G7 economies. These findings offer important contributions to firms, policymakers, and UN sustainable development agendas. [Display omitted] • The paper assesses the impact of innovation and tourism on sustainability. • The results show that innovation helps improve environmental quality. • The results reveal that innovation helps foster economic prosperity. • The paper finds that tourism helps in pollution reduction and economic expansion. • The results show that the level of education is important for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the interaction among innovation, tourism, and climate change has become a point of focus recently. This study examines the impact of innovation and tourism development on the sustainable development of the G7 economies. Panel data from 2000 to 2019 was analyzed for cross-sectional dependency, and a series of panel unit root tests were used to confirm the variables' unit root properties. Pedroni and Kao's tests confirm the cointegration relationship among the variables. The fully modified OLS and dynamic OLS results show that higher economic prosperity and lower environmental pollution are associated with innovation as measured in scientific publications and patents, highlighting the importance of innovation. The results highlight the positive significant impact of tourism arrivals on pollution reduction and economic expansion, which mark the steps for sustainable development. The study finds further evidence that asylum refugees did not positively contribute to economic prosperity, nor were they active in the environmental correction plans of the countries. The level of education provides strong evidence supporting sustainable development by encouraging economic growth and discouraging environmental degradation. Overall, the results recommend raising the level of innovation, tourism development, and higher technical education for the sustainable development of the G7 economies. These findings offer important contributions to firms, policymakers, and UN sustainable development agendas. [Display omitted] • The paper assesses the impact of innovation and tourism on sustainability. • The results show that innovation helps improve environmental quality. • The results reveal that innovation helps foster economic prosperity. • The paper finds that tourism helps in pollution reduction and economic expansion. • The results show that the level of education is important for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frugal innovation can help to foster sustainability and address global challenges, like building economic growth, addressing various social needs, and protecting the environment. However, if one wants to measure the sustainability impacts of frugal innovation or enable companies to make empirically informed decisions between frugal and alternative innovation, the question of how to assess these empirical impacts arises. The main objectives of this paper are the identification of approaches and indicators for assessing the sustainability impacts of frugal innovation and the analysis of empirical findings relating to prior assessments. To this end, a systematic literature review was conducted, which identified 15 texts, and a qualitative content analysis was employed to evaluate their contents. From these analyses two main approaches for assessment emerged. First, the assessment based on the triple bottom line or the dimensions of sustainability (ecological, social, and economic). Second, assessment against the Sustainability Development Goals. In the identified texts, the sustainability dimensions are preferred over the Sustainable Development Goals for assessing the sustainability impacts of frugal innovation. From the 15 identified texts, 13 use qualitative indicators and two quantitative (conceptual) indicators. To answer the research question of the paper, a set of 47 qualitative indicators relating to integrated dimensions of sustainability for the assessment of the sustainability impacts of frugal innovation is proposed. In addition, this paper presents new insights relating to the empirical evidence of sustainability impacts of frugal innovation. Approximately 60% of 334 empirical findings from 70 different cases related to the Sustainable Development Goals contribute to the five (socially and economically focused) SDGs 8, 3, 10, 12, and 9. After a transformation to the Triple Bottom Line, these findings contribute predominantly to the economic and social dimensions (in each case 45%), and only slightly to the ecological dimension (the remaining 10%). In turn, 164 empirical results from 77 different cases related to the Triple Bottom Line show an almost similar contribution to all three sustainability dimensions with a small lead of the economic dimension. Nonetheless, in the opinion of the author, these findings confirm other studies, that from an empirical perspective, frugal innovation can be described as inherently socially and economically sustainable and ecological sustainability is mostly not the primary focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Product-Service System (PSS) approaches and resulting benefits have been viewed mainly from a business world standpoint and in terms of economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability. This paper seeks to extend the application of PSS for community social-economic transformation and links it with Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), especially the Customer-Actor-Transformation-Worldview-Owner-Environment (CATWOE) method, to propose a model for synergistically sustainable community development. This approach recognises the diverse views and transformation goals of multiple stakeholders, fosters value co-creation in achieving desirable outcomes and uncovers synergies between system entities and various PSS elements. By analysing two examples of disadvantaged regional communities, the paper indicates how systems thinking and PSS can facilitate service innovation and opportunities for synergistic sustainability by transforming the local economy and improving services and social livelihoods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract The areas of Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) and innovation are under-explored in research generally, and specifically in sustainability-oriented research. In this paper we propose a practice-based concept of Compliance-Innovation and set out its significance for sustainability. Development of the concept is based on a literature review and exploratory qualitative research with eighteen practitioners. The concept acknowledges the central role of knowledge integration across business domains as the basis of modern competitive advantage. The absence of such integration in the GRC and innovation domains, revealed in practice, opens opportunities. The governing force for such integration is presented here as sustainability, when applied as a strategic orientation for business. We outline how the integration of GRC and innovation domains drive commercial exploitation for environmental sustainability and business sustainability. Building on the concept of Absorptive Capacity we identify both external and internal sources of knowledge as determinants of organization's selected sustainability goals, which are relevant across the phases of organizations' innovation activities throughout its Innovation Value Chain. We argue that a quality-based orientation is necessary to derive value from the networks employed in applying the concept in practice. Highlights • A concept integrating key knowledge contexts of Compliance and Innovation is presented. • The C-I concept integrates imposed regulations and strategic imperatives of business. • Linking Quality and the Innovation Value Chain permits bridging knowledge gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1972, for the first time, the term “sustainable development” was coined at the Stockholm conference, and in 1987, the Brundtland report established the sustainability-innovation “binomial”. Since then, extensive research into sustainability-oriented innovation has been conducted, focused during the last decade on SMEs and recognizing these as the main actor of sustainable development, for which foreign direct investment (FDI) is considered, from a research and institutional point of view, as a vital source, although academic literature presents conflicting conclusions. In this context, this paper aims to perform a microeconomic analysis of how FDI influences the innovative process of SMEs and how this can lead to a process oriented towards sustainability. To this end, a panel of 4667 SMEs has been analyzed, spanning a sample period between 2004 and 2013, through a binary logit model, which compares and contrasts SMEs with FDI and equivalent SMEs without FDI, over time and, therefore, exposed to a changing economy. The most significant results are that FDI is attracted mainly by factors associated with technological supply, which, when coupled with being of medium size and located in a manufacturing sector of medium-high technology, generates positive spillovers. These depend, to a large extent, on public funding, which allows these companies to be more innovative and makes it more likely they focus their innovative process on sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this paper is on the interplay between sustainability and the adoption of various types of innovations. Little empirical research addresses how the valuation of sustainability affects the adoption of different types of innovations. This study contributes to this research gap by presenting the explanatory sustainability factors behind horse industry operators' willingness to adopt technological, service, and business model innovations. The study was executed in Finland, where currently only a fraction of horse manure's potential is utilized and the horse industry is asking for new business models, innovations, and sustainable development. Empirical results collected through a survey of 139 Finnish horse industry operators reveals that the more an operator values economic sustainability, the more likely it is to adopt technological innovations, service innovations, and business model innovations. Moreover, a high valuation of environmental sustainability diminishes the input needed to adopt technological innovations, and the more an operator values institutional sustainability, the more likely it is to adopt business model innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability is a system property; therefore, products/services/technologies/organisations cannot be sustainable on their own but they may be elements of sustainable systems. In addition, to achieve sustainability, there is a requirement for transformation of socio-technical systems which fulfil certain social functions such as energy, mobility and food. The theoretical and practical approaches proposed so far in the broad field of design and innovation for sustainability have not satisfactorily addressed system level changes. This paper provides a critical review of approaches targeting different phases of design and innovation processes. The strengths/shortcomings of these approaches are analysed based on the criteria developed by integrating insights from sustainability science and system innovation/transition management theories. Based on the critical review, a future research agenda is suggested in following areas: exploration of synergies between existing approaches/tools/methods, development of a theoretical framework for design and innovation for sustainability with references to system innovation and transition management theories, and, development of new approaches/tools/methods for the use of design and innovation teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Greening of Industry Network (GIN) is into its third decade of involvement in integrated environmental, social, and economic debates. This paper introduces GIN to another generation of thinkers and doers, and reintroduces it to participants who have had previous experiences with GIN and/or its activities. GIN's history and the various ‘debates’ sponsored by the organization over the years will be overviewed. We also identify debates and directions that we see continuing or emerging over the next few years, as GIN continues to evolve. Although GIN has been an active player in the debates about the greening of industrial development for two decades, it has evolved as social, technological, organizational, and economic developments changed. Over its two-plus decades, GIN has seen significant shifts in a number of directions, many of these shifts occurring in sporadic and unexpected ways. Climate change, resource depletion, sustainability, technological change with an expanding global communication network, social media, multiple recessions and growth periods, base of pyramid emphasis, a growing academic stream in business and the environment, have all contributed to the various lenses of GIN participants and thereby shaped action and activities in the Network. Change continues. GIN will be there to help understand and address some of these changes as they pertain to the Greening of Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Green public procurement has emerged as a policy instrument with a significant potential to steer procurers' and producers' decisions in a sustainable direction. The purpose of this study is to assess the process for development of green public procurement criteria at a Swedish governmental expert body from a strategic sustainability perspective, i.e. to identify strengths and weaknesses from such a perspective as a basis for making this process more supportive of sustainable product and service innovation. A previously published framework for strategic sustainable development is used for the assessment. The assessment shows that the criteria development process is transparent, well-documented and that it encourages a high level of participation by the members of the working groups. However, the assessment also points to several weaknesses of the process. These include, e.g., a limited impact perspective and lack of a clear definition of sustainability objectives. The development process therefore results in criteria which mainly concern a selection of current environmental impacts outside the context of long-term objectives and consequently there are no strategies to prepare for future processes. The conclusion is that the current process may result in improvements as regards some known environmental problems, but to allow for a strategic approach that could more significantly promote innovative product-service system solutions in support of sustainable development, process changes are needed. Essential process changes are proposed in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: It is commonly accepted that, in order to achieve sustainability, there is a need for societal transformation, which requires institutional, social/cultural, organizational and technological change. This societal transformation will involve all aspects of society co-evolving toward and aligning with sustainability goals and is defined as sustainability transition or system innovation for sustainability. However, neither the theory nor the operational approaches currently based on this emerging theory address how to link macro-level innovation within society to the micro-level innovation by companies. This paper presents a scenario method developed and tested for the use of product development teams. The scenario method uses both explorative and backcasting scenarios to link activities/decisions at the product development (micro-innovation) level in companies with the transformation which needs to take place at the societal (macro-innovation) level to achieve sustainability. Workshops were used to develop scenario maps for innovation pathways, leading to sustainable future visions. The method was evaluated by carrying out expert consultations and workshops with product development teams. The evaluation results demonstrated that the scenario method is a viable method to aid companies in aligning their innovation efforts with short, medium and long-term sustainability requirements and identified outstanding issues for further development of the scenario method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is now evidence of a growing demand for green product innovation (GPI), leading to reduced negative environmental effects. This context is an opportunity for the organizational reconfiguration of companies in the manufacturing sector to accommodate these new product attributes and characteristics. Although the identification of the determinants of GPI has improved, its characterization is still fragmented and there is limited coherence in terms of the administrative approach leading to GPI development. The main purpose of this paper is the selection and configuration of the determinants of GPI and their organization into an innovation management model. This is achieved by identifying and categorizing the determinants of GPI in association with green innovation capabilities (GIC) and organizational dimensions (OD). The results provide a set of determinants of GPI, paving the way for organizational challenges, the adaptation and definition of new GIC, and the selection of green-oriented OD. All the above is represented in a framework showing the structural relationships and operationalized in a matrix product of the taxonomy referring to how the determinants of GPI affect GIC and OD, thus facilitating the definition of the variables that assess the progress of the company in pursuit of GPI. This research contributes in the field of management and organizational theories for the managerial transition to sustainable development from the dynamics typical of innovation. It also widens the scope of study for researchers, manufacturing company managers, and governmental bodies responsible for environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nanotechnology is one of the most prominent emerging technologies. It is heralded as a key technology for the 21st century that will contribute to economic prosperity and sustainable development by a broad alliance of policy-makers, scientists and industry representatives. But despite these strong claims, it remains still under question, whether nanotechnology can be made sustainable and how its potential can be assessed and realised. After a brief overview of the interdependences between technology development, innovation and sustainable development, the paper outlines some developments in nanotechnology that are considered as being relevant with regard to sustainability. Drawing from experiences in technology assessment and life cycle analysis, we will discuss research tasks and methodological challenges for a ‘sustainability assessment’ of nanotechnologies and propose a reflexive approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The comprehension of the businesses' impact to sustainable development requires consideration of the different factors that affect firms' behavior, such as corporate governance, non-financial regulation, and the external environment. The contribution of business and management scholars to the discussion surrounding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their impact for business organizations has grown exponentially in the last years. This review systematically examines, through bibliometric and systematic literature review methods, the scientific knowledge about SDGs and the business sector, analyzing (after fine-tuning) 266 articles published in leading journals between 2012 and 2019. The results reveal the existence of four research themes: technological innovation (cluster 1), firms' contributions in developing countries (cluster 2), non-financial reporting (cluster 3), and education for SDGs (cluster 4). The main insights from the analysis of the papers are discussed, future research directions and practical implications for the field of study are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]