The promises of drop-in vs. functional innovations: The case of bioplastics

N. Befort

Ecological Economics, 2021, vol. 181, issue C

Abstract: This paper introduces the difference between “drop-in innovation” and “functional innovation”. The former aims to maintain the existing paradigm, while the latter aims to fulfill equivalent functionalities favouring low-tech and degrowth options, instead of promising sustainability without changes thanks to technological change. Moving beyond the debate regarding the nature of eco-innovations, a social ecological economics of eco-innovation promises is developed to determine the potential contribution of eco-innovations to the transition towards a post-growth economy. This framework is applied to the case of bioplastics showing how they may depart from the productivism paradigm.

Keywords: Expectations; Promises; Bioplastics; Polylactic acid; Eco-innovation; Social ecological economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L65 O32 O33 Q16 Q55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:181:y:2021:i:c:s0921800920313537

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106886

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