Facilitating systemic eco?innovation to pave the way for a circular economy: A qualitative?empirical study on barriers and drivers in the European polyurethane industry

Scholars, politicians, and practitioners have recently advocated that eco-innovation (EI) is critical to achieve the circular economy (CE) vision. While much of available body knowledge on EI has predominantly focused “eco-efficient” incremental technological innovation, a successful CE transition requires systemic “eco-effective” innovation. Yet, little known about what barriers drivers are stimulating innovation in different sectors regions. This research aims deliver an identification major impede or facilitate European polyurethane plastics industry. A hybrid approach applied using original combination inductive GABEK method (“GAnzheitliche BEwältigung von Komplexität”—holistic processing complexity) with deductive consideration existing theories. Novel findings indicate largely materialize individual firm intra-industrial levels, while primarily manifest beyond immediate industrial boundaries (inter-/cross-industrial). The key contribution lies revealing necessity reframe focus from mere “optimization”, which been discussed contemporary literature, collective (horizontal) “coordination” challenge across industries enable functional In addition, five strategic deliberations proposed further advance management activities.