Mobilizing change in an industry network for commercializing a sustainable innovation

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p>The development and diffusion of sustainable innovations are of interest to variety of actors, including actors from both public and private sectors. However, the mobilization of change in industry networks that can facilitate the commercialization of such innovations has remained an under-researched area. Therefore, this study examines what triggers the change in existing industry networks that facilitates the commercialization of a sustainable innovation. Qualitative research methods are employed to explore the research phenomenon of interest in the empirical context of food packaging, for which a new bio-based biodegradable plastic packaging material is introduced. As a result, this study identifies first-, second- and third-phase triggers that first create the emerging and then the growing market for the sustainable innovation. A multitude of connections exists between these triggers, but structural triggers in the first phase and agency triggers in the second phase are critical in making the transition to happen and new practices to emerge.</p></div>