Product-service systems as enabler for sustainability-oriented innovation: The case of osram's off-grid lighting

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

Authors

Corporations increasingly subscribe to the principles of corporate sustainability, which is generally described as the integration of economic, environmental, and social dimensions. As sustainability presents a new source of ideas and visions leading to new business opportunities and competitive advantage, the role of Sustainability-Oriented Innovation (SOI) is ever more emphasized. However, developing products under the paradigm of SOI is risky: both the product's market success and (non-economic) sustainability effects are uncertain. Product-Service System (PSS) - i.e. a combination of products and services -constitutes a significant approach to overcome some of the limitations of SOI and, additionally, can spur the diffusion of SOI. In this chapter, we use an exploratory research strategy to further investigate the links between SOI and PSS. We present a case study on off-grid lighting in Kenya and analyze the sustainability effects on the product and PSS level. The complexity of SOI and the sustainability potentials of PSS are illustrated. Moreover, we also emphasize the role of a joint achievement of sustainability-oriented product innovations and PSS innovations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSustainable Practices : Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications
Number of pages15
Volume2
PublisherIGI Global Publishing
Publication date31.12.2013
Pages1106-1120
ISBN (print)146664852X, 9781466648524
ISBN (electronic)9781466648531
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31.12.2013