| 1. |
- Aagaard, Annabeth, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping the types of business experimentation in creating sustainable value : A case study of cleantech start-ups
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, business experimentation for sustainable value creation is explored through seven cleantech start-ups by applying the systemic combining approach. The findings reveal novel descriptions of six different business experimentation types. The study also advances our theoretical understanding of how the specific roles of learning, signaling, and convincing dominate each of the experimentation types differently and how each type of business experimentation has a distinct purpose. Furthermore, our findings propose how business experimentation types can be applied as a continuum as part of the cleantech start-ups’ sustainable value creation process. Hence, our study contributes theoretically to our understanding of business experimentation for sustainable value creation and how the different types are applied in cleantech start-ups. We conclude our treatise with managerial implications and outline fruitful future research avenues.
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| 2. |
- Kotilainen, K., et al.
(författare)
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From energy consumers to prosumers-how do policies influence the transition?
- 2021
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Ingår i: Electrification. - : Elsevier. - 9780128221433 - 9780128221761 ; , s. 197-215
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Active producer-consumers (prosumers) still number relatively few in most countries, excluding frontrunner countries such as Germany and the USA, where small-scale solar power generation by property-owners has made strong inroads. To unleash their potential for a transition to a more climate-neutral electric energy system, identifying the potential enablers and constraints for the proliferation of prosumption is crucial. Policy mixes have been identified as important enablers for industry transitions. We report a case comparing the similarities and differences among prosumer-related policies in five European countries: Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. We also introduce an empirical case study on how policies in these countries may influence consumer attitudes in favor of small-scale renewable energy production. We conclude the chapter by discussing the best practices and the mix of more precise policy instruments deployable for involving citizens in order to accelerate the electrification of the energy system.
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| 3. |
- Leal Filho, Walter, et al.
(författare)
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An assessment of attitudes towards plastics and bioplastics in Europe
- 2021
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 755:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over the last 50 years, conventional fossil-based plastics have become an integral part of our everyday lives. Apart from their low production costs, this is due to a number of their unique properties, including durability, strength, lightness, electrical and thermal insulation, resistance to chemicals and corrosion. The production of plastics has increased from 1.5 million metric tons in 1950 to 359 million metric tons in 2018. Of this total, 61.8 million metric tons were produced in Europe. There are various problems associated with plastic use and disposal that pose a serious threat to both the physical environment and human health. Since public behaviour plays a key role when it comes to the use of plastic, this paper reports on a study that focused on an assessment of attitudes towards plastics and bioplastics in Europe. The results showed that packaging is the most frequent modality of plastic used among participants. In addition, majority of participants are aware that plastic waste can affect environment and human health and therefore segregate and properly dispose plastics. Also, even though most respondents were aware of the environmental problems related to plastic use and showed a positive inclination towards using bioplastic materials, their limited availability and lack of relevant information about bioplastics pose a problem for wider use. Departing from the assumption that the public attitude is a determining factor in the consumption of plastics as a whole and bioplastics in particular, this paper also sheds some light on the current situation, identifying some trends and information gaps which should be addressed in order to encourage a more rational use of plastics in Europe.
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| 4. |
- Saari, Ulla A., et al.
(författare)
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Sustainable consumption behavior of Europeans : The influence of environmental knowledge and risk perception on environmental concern and behavioral intention
- 2021
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Ingår i: Ecological Economics. - : Elsevier. - 0921-8009 .- 1873-6106. ; 189
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study explores how environmental knowledge and risk perception influence individuals' sustainable consumption behavior through the mediation of environmental concern and behavioral intention. The study combines constructs from earlier studies to form a novel theoretical model, which is tested and validated with an open data set from the Environment III 2010 module, which was collected by the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). Our sample consists of respondents from nine countries (N = 11,675) in the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The model indicates that environmental risk perception and environmental knowledge impact environmental concern significantly. Furthermore, environmental concern strongly influences behavioral intention, and these constructs, in turn, act as mediators of sustainable consumption behavior. The findings indicate that in Europe, sustainable consumption behavior can be associated with environmental concern, which is influenced by increased levels of environmental knowledge and environmental risk perception. The results provide a basis for future analyses once the Environment IV module is released. This will be of particular importance for tracking possible changes in the sustainable consumption behavior of Europeans when transitioning to a green and circular economy that is driven by the European Green Deal and EU Circular Economy Action Plan.
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| 5. |
- Saari, Ulla A., et al.
(författare)
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The vegan trend and the microfoundations of institutional change : A commentary on food producers’ sustainable innovation journeys in Europe
- 2021
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Ingår i: Trends in Food Science & Technology. - : Elsevier. - 0924-2244 .- 1879-3053. ; 107, s. 161-167
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundToday's meat and dairy industry has a vast environmental footprint. To reach the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) of ending hunger globally (SDG #2) and achieving sustainable consumption and production (SDG #12), this food production system needs to change. Recent years have seen the rise in popularity of the vegan or plant-based diet among consumers, which can go some way to reducing the environmental burden. This trend has motivated pioneering food producers to develop innovative vegan food products for niche markets, thus driving the sustainability transition of the food sector.Scope and approach This commentary tracks how three pioneering food companies have responded to the vegan trend in Europe. From the analysis of the sustainable innovation journeys of these innovative food producers, we propose a framework that presents a multi-level perspective on the socio-technical transition of the food production and consumption system.Key findings and conclusions The findings show how food producers, incumbents, and new entrants progress through an early phase of planning a direction and establishing a goal, followed by pivoting and experimenting in response to changes in the business environment. This innovation journey concludes as the company moves from experimentation and learning activities onto innovation implementation. The paper postulates a model that describes how regime level changes arise from the microfoundations of the food production and consumption system, as the innovation journeys of companies drive institutional change towards sustainability. The paper identifies future research avenues to explore the sustainable development of vegan food production in more depth.
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