How environmental protection agencies can promote eco-innovation: The prospect of voluntary reciprocal legitimacy

Ball, Christopher; MacEachern, Erik; Burt, George; De Vries, Frans

doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2017.11.004

Journal Article

FZJ-2018-02823

How environmental protection agencies can promote eco-innovation: The prospect of voluntary reciprocal legitimacy

Ball, C.FZJ* ; Burt, G. (Corresponding author) ; De Vries, F. ; MacEachern, E.

2018
Elsevier Science Amsterdam [u.a.]

Technological forecasting and social change 129, 242 - 253 (2018) [10.1016/j.techfore.2017.11.004]

This record in other databases:

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2017.11.004

Abstract: This paper examines the UK and Irish Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) ability to move beyond regulatory compliance to support and promote sustainable environmental innovation, in short “eco-innovation”. To do so would require them to overcome the perception that they face, often being perceived as ‘policemen’ by the regulated business community. We propose a new empirically-derived theoretical construct called Voluntary Reciprocal Legitimacy (VRL), defined as the development of mutual trust between the regulator and business resulting in arrangements which generate eco-innovation benefits for the regulator, the regulated business communities and society at large. VRL adds a new category to Suchman's (1995) theory of moral legitimacy as well as highlights how EPAs can build trust between themselves and regulated business, allowing a shift of the ‘beyond compliance’ legislative boundary. Such an approach supports eco-innovation whilst simultaneously protecting the natural environment.

Classification: