Abstract
PurposeThis study aims to investigate the hybrid nature and scope of environmental innovation (EI) by assuming a paradox perspective and developing it empirically. Specifically, the authors raise the questions of how the opposite elements of EI characteristics can be arranged and combined to generate benefits for companies and markets.Design/methodology/approachA fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is conducted to analyse European companies operating in telecommunications and in information and communication technology (ICT). This method helps us interpret the complexity occurring in the real world, in which the contribution of a specific attribute to the outcome might change according to other interacting and concurring aspects.FindingsBy recognising the conflicting aspects inherent to the complexity of EI, this study addresses how these tensions can be embraced. Specifically, the paradox logic is proposed to open EI strategy to a “both-and” perspective, with the purpose of making EI goals concretely feasible and integrated into a holistic view.Practical implicationsParadoxical resolution denotes purposeful iterations between alternatives to ensure simultaneous attention to them over time. A paradox logic can support managers in making the EI strategy more workable and reconciling the extremes as well as possible.Originality/valueThis study unpacks the multiple enactments of EI by exploring the factors enabling integrated EI benefits. By adopting a paradox approach, the EI strategy may be interpreted in a “both-and” perspective, allowing firms to concretely achieve integrated EI benefits.
Highlights
Environmental topics are increasingly capturing the interest of different disciplines, i.e. economics, engineering and management, in the pursuit of solutions that address the core elements of the sustainability agenda in many industries (Bl€attel-Mink, 1998; Babiak and Trendafilova, 2011; Dangelico and Pujari, 2010; Ketata et al, 2015)
Based on literature we identified three main dimensions of environmental innovation (EI), i.e. types of EI, forces leading to EI and modes of EI, which are included for consideration in our paradoxical frame
The consistency threshold for the detection of a necessary condition is set at 0.9, but the three conditions, namely types of EI, forces leading to EI and modes of EI reach consistency parameters equal to 0.56, 0.80 and 0.84, respectively
Summary
The need to tackle the consequences of climate change, including resource scarcity, the health impacts of pollution and biodiversity loss, cannot be denied by companies, which must address these challenges affordably and cost-effectively (Chang, 2011). In this context, environmental innovation (EI), i.e. innovation that reduces the environmental impact of production and consumption activities (Kiefer et al, 2017, 2019), is an integral aspect of strategy related to firm competition (Wagner, 2009; Khosravi et al, 2019). The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
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