Better Policies to Support Eco-innovation

Eco-innovation is more important than ever on the public policy agenda. It is a major driver for green growth and contributes to the environmental performance and economic development of OECD and developing countries alike.
This report takes a pragmatic approach to policies that support the development and diffusion of eco-innovation. Building on the OECD Innovation Strategy, it argues that eco-innovation is not merely about technological developments: non-technical innovations matter as well. It acknowledges that policies do not operate in a vacuum and that they must take account of the contexts that influence the development and diffusion of eco-innovation, such as market structures. It explores links between eco-innovation policies and related fields such as industry, competition, and international cooperation.
This work builds on an OECD inventory of eco-innovation policies in OECD countries and in China. It also draws on studies of select environment-friendly innovations, highlighting different patterns of development across countries. It also incorporates extensive international consultation on the topics of eco-innovation and green growth.
The results from this publication will contribute to the Green Growth Strategy being developed by the OECD as a practical policy package for governments to harness the potential of greener growth.
For more information on OECD work on eco-innovation, visit: www.oecd.org/greengrowth
www.oecd.org/environment/innovation
www.oecd.org/sti/innovation/green
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Executive summary
Innovative products, services, processes or business models can benefit the environment by reducing pressure on natural resources and/or the emission of pollutants. At the same time, environmentally friendly innovation can foster economic development. The environmental goods and services industry is growing fast in OECD and non-member countries alike. Like information technologies a few decades ago, it can enhance the competitiveness of other industries. This explains why a number of OECD governments see environmentally friendly innovation (hereafter ecoinnovation) as a major driver of green growth.
Also available in: French
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