Five Ways Sustainable Innovation is Different from Normal Innovation

Innovation has become more important than ever to sustainability, but the disruptive nature of sustainability must surely change the way we innovate. Sustainable innovation differs from normal innovation in five key ways. Firstly, sustainable innovation balances sustainability factors with performance, cost, technology, and desirability. Secondly, insights come from stakeholders as well as customers and consumers. A wider systems view is adopted, with innovators designing for wider lifecycle stages. Inspiration comes from nature as well as technology and culture. Finally, sustainable innovation serves sustainable development goals in addition to commercial ones.