In this paper we analyse the development of corporate environmental management systems through the core elements of the emerging evolutionary theory of the firm. The environmental management process means a process by which organizations change their structures and cultures as a result of an interlinked effort of individual learning and organizational transformation. We propose that effective environmental management capacities derive primarily from the adaptation of three constitutive mechanisms of firms: the coordination mechanisms, the cognitive mechanisms and the incentive mechanisms. Our theoretical results are supported by case studies in 12 industrial firms localized in France (Alsace) and in Germany (Baden-Wurtemberg).
This paper analyses the innovation dynamics in resource-intensive production processes. It is based mainly on patent data and distinguishes the technology areas durability, material savings, and recycling as well as the technologies promoted in the funding priority r2 - Innovative Technologies for Resource Efficiency - Resource-Intensive Production Processes of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In terms of patent dynamics, the first two areas keep pace with the general increase in patent applications, whereas patent applications in recycling stagnate on the world level as well as in Germany. The dynamics in the technological fields of the r2-funding priority deviate only little from this pattern. It is shown, however, that Germany's patent shares are lower for these fields. A country comparison shows further regional specialization patterns. The catching-up processes in rapidly growing economies such as Korea and China, are reflected here as well
Resource efficiency is one key element to support industrial production in Germany and Europe and an important contribution towards sustainability. Research today is focusing on development of resource efficient technologies and their industrial implementation. Based on a research program funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, this contribution tries to quantify the resource efficiency effects created by recent scientific and technical developments in resource-intensive production processes. Taking one industrial branch as an example, the improvements in cumulative material demand, primary energy demand, and global warming potential are being identified. Moreover, implementation aspects for resource efficiency innovations are addressed
Zusammenfassung
Die Idee, handelbare Nutzungszertifikate auf den Problembereich der Flächeninanspruchnahme für Siedlung und Verkehr zu übertragen, wird in Wissenschaft und Politik seit über 15 Jahren diskutiert. Dennoch blieb es in Deutschland lange Zeit bei wissenschaftlichen Erörterungen und Vorschlägen sachverständiger Politikberatungsgremien, bis 2009 mit der Koalitionsvereinbarung der Regierungsparteien eine modellhafte Erprobung eines überregionalen Handelssystems für die Flächennutzung angeregt wurde. Der vorliegende Beitrag bietet einen Überblick über die Ergebnisse des mit der fachlichen Vorbereitung dieses Modellversuchs befassten Forschungsprojektes im Auftrag des Umweltbundesamtes, das 2012 startete. Dazu wird zunächst die wissenschaftliche Debatte über die positiven wie negativen Wirkungen handelbarer Flächenzertifikate zusammengefasst. Anschließend skizziert der Beitrag das geplante methodische Design des Modellversuchs, der ein „kontrolliertes Feldexperiment“ und parallel „kommunale Fallstudien“ umfassen soll. Der Aufsatz schließt mit einem kurzen Ausblick auf die zu erwartenden Erkenntnisse aus dem Modellversuch.
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