Sustainable development through process innovation
conference paper
Innovation of processes is one of the corner stones of sustainable development. Innovation may be characterized by the degree of intervention in the existing basematerials-processes-products chains. Four types of innovation are distinguished [1]:
— optimisation (type 1);
— redesign (type 2);
— function innovation (type 3);
— system innovation (type 4).
Type 1 refers to improvements that essentially leave the process unaltered. Type 2 may result in a redesign (of parts) of the process, such as design for recycling. It may involve the substitution of some of the materials; the product may be improved but is not radically changed. Type 3 goes beyond the existing products and processes. Processes may be fundamentally changed to make the existing products or new products. However, the new products perform the same function for fulfillment of human needs as the original products. Type 4 results not only in a radically changed process, but it also intervenes in the infrastructure, institution and other elements that together comprise the socio-technological system that exists to fulfil human needs like food, housing etc.
Figure 1 shows the relation between the four types, reduction of environmental intensity of products and processes and the period of time necessary for the development and diffusion.
— optimisation (type 1);
— redesign (type 2);
— function innovation (type 3);
— system innovation (type 4).
Type 1 refers to improvements that essentially leave the process unaltered. Type 2 may result in a redesign (of parts) of the process, such as design for recycling. It may involve the substitution of some of the materials; the product may be improved but is not radically changed. Type 3 goes beyond the existing products and processes. Processes may be fundamentally changed to make the existing products or new products. However, the new products perform the same function for fulfillment of human needs as the original products. Type 4 results not only in a radically changed process, but it also intervenes in the infrastructure, institution and other elements that together comprise the socio-technological system that exists to fulfil human needs like food, housing etc.
Figure 1 shows the relation between the four types, reduction of environmental intensity of products and processes and the period of time necessary for the development and diffusion.
TNO Identifier
256184
Publisher
TNO
Source title
11th World Clean Air and Environment Congress, Durban, South Africa, 14 to 18 September 1998, vol. 2
Files
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