Sustainable innovation: an approach to the external-relation perspective and the triple bottom line

Abstract

Sustainable innovation has experienced a significant increased interest. This results in greater demands for businesses. There is some literature on sustainable innovation, but little research has been conducted on the relationship between businesses’ sustainable innovation practices from an external-relations perspective and its triple bottom line outcome. Therefore, we have decided to investigate sustainable innovation in industrial businesses. Our research questions are: Why is it important for businesses to focus on sustainable innovation from an external relation perspective? How does businesses implement process and policies to achieve sustainable innovation? How does the sustainable innovativeness affect the companies´ triple bottom line outcome? The literature repeatedly presents the importance of focusing on the external-relation perspective, as well as the triple bottom line outcome. The empirical findings also provide an extension of the TBL, including technology and education. In order to shed light on this matter, we used a qualitative approach, more specifically interviews. Our study included six interviews, consisting of two experts on the field and four interviews with industrial businesses. Based on the literature and the findings, there is a relatively major focus on sustainable innovation among industrial businesses. The research reveals that it is important for industrial business to priorities sustainable innovation mainly due to the competitive advantage. In addition, a great pressure has been uncovered when it comes to the external-relations perspective. There is also a strong emphasis on the triple bottom line, mainly as a result of the economical and the environmental dimension, while the social dimension in place. Overall, to conclude, sustainable innovation is a necessity for the future of industrial companies.