Drivers for the Adoption of Eco-Innovations in the German Fertilizer Supply Chain

Hasler, Kathrin; Olfs, Hans‐Werner; Omta, Onno; Bröring, Stefanie

doi:10.3390/su8080682

Cited by 25 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(96 reference statements)

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“…A research conducted by Hasler et al (2016) shows that the farmers are the most skeptical towards fertilizer eco-innovation of the whole supply chain [27]. Hasler et al (2016) concluded that both farmers and suppliers consider legal regulations as a driving force for environmental requirements and eco-innovation [27]. Further research on the opinion of farmers could shed more light on the opinions of farmers towards the use of struvite or other recovered P products.…”

Section: Social Aspects: Interview Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Growing awareness about the phosphate problem could play a helping hand in the use of recycled phosphates. A research conducted by Hasler et al (2016) shows that the farmers are the most skeptical towards fertilizer eco-innovation of the whole supply chain [27]. Hasler et al (2016) concluded that both farmers and suppliers consider legal regulations as a driving force for environmental requirements and eco-innovation [27].…”

Section: Social Aspects: Interview Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Assessment of the Drivers and Barriers for the Deployment of Urban Phosphorus Recovery Technologies: A Case Study of The Netherlands

et al. 2018

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Phosphorus (P), being one of the building blocks of life, is essential for a multitude of applications, primarily for fertilizer usage. Sustainable management of phosphorus is becoming increasingly important in light of adverse environmental effects, ambiguous reserves, increasing global demand and unilateral dependence. Recovery of phosphorus from the biggest loss stream, communal wastewater, has the potential to tackle each of these problems. The implementation of phosphorus recovery technologies at wastewater treatment plants is not widespread, despite prolonged efforts primarily done by researchers over the past decade. This study aimed to assess the drivers and barriers of a phosphorus recovery transition. Several key stakeholders involved in this transition in The Netherlands were interviewed. The Netherlands was taken as a case study, since it serves as a frontrunner in the implementation of phosphorus recovery technologies. This study shows that the main barriers from the point of view of fertilizer companies are the different and unclear characteristics of the phosphorus recovery product struvite compared to common fertilizers. Moreover, the end-of-waste status of struvite is mentioned as a prominent barrier for a phosphorus transition, since it hinders free market trade. Many water boards indicate that the main barrier is the high investment cost with an uncertain return on investment for onsite struvite recovery processes. The specified main driver for water boards for onsite struvite phosphorus recovery technology is the reduction of maintenance costs, and for phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge ash, the low organic pollutant in the P recovery product.

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Section: Social Aspects: Interview Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Social Aspects: Interview Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of the Drivers and Barriers for the Deployment of Urban Phosphorus Recovery Technologies: A Case Study of The Netherlands

et al. 2018

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“…More importantly, sustainable innovation paradox management requires inter-organizational cooperation, because innovation relies on a sustainable ecosystem consisting of interactions among organizations, policies, and the environment [12]. This implies that the focal firm plays an important role in managing sustainable innovation paradox effectively [7,13]. Published works found that ambidextrous capability is an effective way of resolving the paradox [14], but few works discussed the sustainable innovation paradox of the focal firm based on it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing Innovation Paradox in the Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study of Ambidextrous Capability in a Focal Firm

Zeng

Ouyang

2017

Sustainability

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To achieve sustainable development, focal firms should balance two paradoxical kinds of innovation activities: exploitative and exploratory ones. Published works found that ambidexterity is an effective way to resolve paradoxical tensions, but few in-depth studies have been conducted to explore the innovation paradox of focal firms in the innovation ecosystem from an ambidextrous capability perspective. This paper takes China Spacesat Co., Ltd. as the case to study focal firms' management of innovation paradoxes in the sustainable innovation ecosystem and finds that: (1) Sustainable innovation is an ecosystem in which focal firms' internal functional departments, including the product department, technical center, and Makers' groups, cooperate with external organizations, including component suppliers, scientific research institutes, and government departments, closely and complementarily; (2) In the exploitative and exploratory innovations of complex products, focal firms in the sustainable innovation ecosystem mainly confront three paradoxes: profit drive vs. breakthroughs in the strategic intent of sustainable innovation of the profit-driven model, tight vs. loose coupling of sustainable innovation, and sustainable innovation driven by discipline vs. that by passion; (3) Focal firms in the innovation ecosystem resolve these three innovation paradoxes with structural, contextual, and coordinated ambidextrous capabilities, and build innovation paradox management mechanisms with three steps in sequence, namely by establishing dual sustainable strategic innovation units, strengthening sustainable organizational ties between the internal and external, while co-creating and sharing innovation values, and, finally, promoting the formation and development of their sustainable innovation ecosystem. This paper complements and enriches the innovation ecosystem and ambidextrous capability theory, providing significant practical guidance to the sustainable development of aerospace enterprises.

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“…However, most of them are still not used at farm level although they might have a high potential in decreasing CO 2 emissions (Renni and Heffer 2010). Based on an intensive survey, Hasler et al (2016) have already shown that most of these agricultural eco-innovations are not relevant for in-depth studies in GHG emissions, because of their insignificant market penetration. However, three specific fertilizer eco-innovations with high importance for the fertilizer sector and potential of GHG emission reduction could be identified: stabilized nitrogen fertilizers (SNF), fertigation (FG) and secondary raw material fertilizers (SRMF).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ecoinnovations are innovations that aim at improving the production, application or exploring of a product that is novel and which results, throughout its life cycle, in a reduction of environmental risk, pollution and negative impacts of resource use (including energy use) compared to relevant alternatives (Kemp et al 1998, Rennings 2000, Ekins 2010). Eco-innovations are innovations that reduce the environmental impact and potentially lead to a more responsible application of fertilizers in order to achieve low input/high output farming systems (Hasler et al 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Eco-innovations in the German fertilizer supply chain: Impact on the carbon footprint of fertilizers

Hasler¹,

Bröring²,

Omta³

et al. 2017

Plant Soil Environ.

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The aim of this paper is to analyse to what extent the existing eco-innovations in the German fertilizer domain might reduce the fertilizer carbon footprint without compromising on crop productivity. The continuously growing demand for agricultural products will require a further increase in agricultural production mostly achieved with additional external inputs (fossil energy, pesticides, irrigation water and fertilizers). Fertilizer in general and nitrogen fertilizers in particular are major factors for yield increases in crop production. On the other hand, emissions of greenhouse gases play a dominant role in the debate on the environmental burden of fertilizers. Typical mineral fertilizers were compared with so-called stabilized nitrogen fertilizers and secondary raw material fertilizers in this study. Additionally, an effect of the combination of irrigation with fertilization (i.e. fertigation) was investigated. With an adopted life cycle assessment approach focusing on CO<sub>2</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O emission, the carbon footprints of the different fertilizer options were considered. The calculations showed that especially the use of stabilized nitrogen fertilizer reduced the fertilization-related carbon footprint up to 13%. However, because of higher costs or incomplete supply chain relationships, adoption of these innovations is expected to be rather limited in the near future. Fertilizers made from secondary raw materials resulted in similar carbon footprints as mineral ones, but they can help to close nutrient cycles and use by-products of other production processes.

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Drivers for the Adoption of Eco-Innovations in the German Fertilizer Supply Chain

Cited by 25 publications

References 68 publications

An Assessment of the Drivers and Barriers for the Deployment of Urban Phosphorus Recovery Technologies: A Case Study of The Netherlands

An Assessment of the Drivers and Barriers for the Deployment of Urban Phosphorus Recovery Technologies: A Case Study of The Netherlands

Managing Innovation Paradox in the Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study of Ambidextrous Capability in a Focal Firm

Eco-innovations in the German fertilizer supply chain: Impact on the carbon footprint of fertilizers

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