posted on 2016-02-20, 08:55authored byKira J. M. Matus, William C. Clark, Paul T. Anastas, Julie
B. Zimmerman
This paper investigates the conditions under which firms
are able
to develop and implement innovations with sustainable development
benefits. In particular, we examine “green chemistry”
innovations in the United States. Via interviews with green chemistry
leaders from industry, academia, nongovernmental institutions (NGOs),
and government, we identified six major categories of challenges commonly
confronted by innovators: (1) economic and financial, (2) regulatory,
(3) technical, (4) organizational, (5) cultural, and (6) definition
and metrics. Further analysis of these barriers shows that in the
United States, two elements of these that are particular to the implementation
of green chemistry innovations are the absence of clear definitions
and metrics for use by researchers and decision makers, as well as
the interdisciplinary demands of these innovations on researchers
and management. Finally, we conclude with some of the strategies that
have been successful thus far in overcoming these barriers, and the
types of policies which could have positive impacts moving forward.