Innovation is increasingly important and necessary in our daily lives, so much so that it has become one of the fundamental pillars of our society and of our economic model.
Innovation is usually related to developing new products with better benefits, however, innovation can also be applied with other objectives such as, for example, the better use of resources, the manufacture of easily reusable products or the design of new processes that produce less waste. This type of innovation is known as eco-innovation or ecological innovation.
The concept of eco-innovation refers to the development of new products or production processes, or even business models, that have a low environmental impact during the course of their life cycle.
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WHAT DOES IT CONSIST OF?
It is much more than launching a new product or service taking into account the efficient use of resources and minimizing the impact on the planet and taking into account aspects such as strategy, process design and the relationship with suppliers and customers.
Thus, many companies see this concept as a way to differentiate themselves from other companies, but also to reduce costs, avoiding the waste of energy during the entire process or the use of certain raw materials. In this way, using fewer materials, for example, in packaging, generates a higher profit margin that allows saving costs and even lowering prices.
This, together with a branding strategy that highlights the importance of the environment for the company, could be a long-term business strategy.
This type of innovation is framed within the circular economy model, which is increasingly common and necessary.
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raw material – produce – consume – dispose – recycle
EXAMPLES
- Bioplastics: Scott Munguía produces bioplastics from avocado seeds. This Mexican chemical engineer discovered in 2011 that the seed of this fruit contains a biopolymer similar to that found in corn, which is used to produce these inputs. That is why, in 2014, he founded Biofase, a Monterrey-based company that markets bioplastics, made from 60% avocado biopolymer and 40% synthetic organic compounds.
Straws and silverware break down in just 240 days and there is no need for incineration. This makes them an economical and ecological alternative for cities or countries that have chosen not to incinerate.
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- Turbines to clean oceans and rivers: Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: it damages marine biodiversity, coastal economies, and even human health. Every year, around 13 million tons of plastic waste end up in the oceans, which is equivalent to one garbage truck per minute. Most of all this garbage is dumped into the rivers of the main cities.
Inty Grønneberg, an Ecuadorian inventor, had the idea of developing various types of turbines capable of filtering and collecting plastics from bodies of water, thus preventing them from ending up in the oceans. Through his company called Ichtion, the turbines can collect up to 80 tons of plastic from rivers every day and can be installed on any ship and collect waste while sailing.
- Water soluble bags: One million plastic bags are consumed every minute around the world. Most of them end up in landfills or in the oceans. Created in the 1960s, the one-piece polyethylene shopping bag takes 500 years to decompose.
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Roberto Astete and Cristian Olivares, founders of the Chilean company Solubag, presented a plastic bag that dissolves in water in just a few minutes. The bag dissolves completely in the water, no harm. You can even drink the water as it has no chemicals.
This practice is important for the development of today’s society because the development of services based on it means the distribution of more efficient and better quality products, which will contribute to improving people’s comfort.
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Javier López Casarín is an Expert in Innovation*
The opinions expressed are solely the responsibility of their authors and are completely independent of the position and editorial line of Forbes Mexico.