How Firms’ Strategic Environmental Goals Influence Product Innovation

In this chapter, Gerstlberger, da Mota Pedrosa and Atlason investigate how internal environmental goals affect the product innovation activities of manufacturing firms. Based on 150 surveys and additional qualitative interviews, the chapter highlights that focussing on strategic environmental goals also enhances the general product innovation activities of manufacturing firms. Managers responsible for areas such as corporate strategy, R&D, production and marketing can use this insight to identify and implement strategic environmental goals for their firms. These goals will, for example, lead to significant reductions in energy and/or material consumption in specific fields related to new product development, including production, product use, product refurbishment, maintenance of products and production facilities.