How Understandings Colour the Means and Ends in the Case of Environmental Innovations

Different understandings of the concept of innovation have resulted in different means and ends in the innovation activities within Dan-ish industry. The different emphasis on economic, technical, organ-isational, inter-organisational and institutional issues in product and process-innovation has influenced the initiatives made by state, market and civil society. Focusing on environmental innovations, this is revealed in the initiatives and outcome of the previous envi-ronmental policy in Denmark. The paper, makes an analyti-cal distinction between different understandings of innovation, ex-emplified with cases from the environmental practise in Danish firms. Finally, this leads to a discussion of, how a comprehensive understanding of innovation can form a co-ordinated and giving environmental practise