Exploring the Landscape of Eco-Innovation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Concepts and Trends in the Manufacturing and Shipbuilding Industries

Abstract

Eco-innovation (EI) as a conceptual approach has gained significant momentum in the transition of the manufacturing sector towards sustainability. This paper aims to contribute to the study of the research landscape on EI in the manufacturing industry by applying a bibliometric methodology and identifying prevailing trends and concepts used in academic literature. For this purpose, search engines such as Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) were utilized, along with analytical tools such as Bibliometrix, Microsoft Excel, and Gephi. The search was conducted using equations constructed from keywords deemed relevant to the objective, and the records obtained from the databases were consolidated into a single repository for joint analysis using the RStudio platform. The findings revealed an increase in scientific production from 2010 onwards. The analysis identified that the most influential authors, affiliations, and documents primarily originate from Spain, Germany, and China. The key concepts identified are the circular economy, eco-design, and green technologies, which provide a holistic framework for improving efficiency, reducing waste, and mitigating environmental impacts. EI promotes close collaboration between industries to reduce the ecological footprint. Nonetheless, there is a notable gap in research about EI in the shipbuilding industry, necessitating further exploration in the sector. This study lays a foundation for future investigations in this evolving domain.