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Background/Goals:
As the first global certification system contributing to the circular economy, the cradle to cradle quality standard has received much attention in the past decade. While many success stories are known and a rich ecosystem of consultancies and other support organisations exist for facilitating change in companies, what has been missing is in-depth scientific knowledge about the actual innovation processes within companies leading to successful implementation and commercialization of cradle to cradle certified products.
Details
Timeframe
01.12.2015 - 14.10.2020
Academic Lead
Project Manager
Given that the innovation process necessary for introducing products and services meeting the ambitious cradle to cradle criteria are characterised by knowledge intensity, multi party processes, high complexity and long time frames, unearthing the details of the innovation process in cradle to cradle certified companies seems to be the key for a further diffusion of the standard.
Partners:
- gugler* GmbH
- Werner & Mertz
- Wolford AG
Publications:
- Scientific publications:
- Hansen, Erik. G., and Schmitt, Julia. C. 2021. Orchestrating cradle-to-cradle innovation across the value chain. Overcoming barriers through innovation communities, collaboration mechanisms, and intermediation. Journal of Industrial Ecology 25 (3): 627–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13081, opens an external URL in a new window
- Schmitt, Julia. C. 2020. Circular Innovation Processes: The Role of Absorptive Capacity, Innovation Communities, and Integrated Management Systems in Cradle-to-Cradle Product Development. PhD Thesis. Johannes Kepler University (JKU) Linz. https://epub.jku.at/obvulihs/content/titleinfo/5581242, opens an external URL in a new window
- Practitioner publications:
- Schmitt, Julia. C., and Hansen, Erik. G. 2022. Cradle-to-Cradle-Innovationsprozesse gestalten: erfolgreiche Produktentwicklung in der Circular Economy. Johannes Kepler University (JKU) Linz. https://doi.org/10.35011/iqd.2022-01, opens an external URL in a new window
- Teaching Case Study:
- Schmitt, Julia. C., and Hansen, Erik. G. 2023. Beyond Cleaning: Werner & Mertz's Sustainable Product Innovation with Cradle to Cradle. The Case Centre. https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=191347, opens an external URL in a new window
