Factors Determining the Development of Product Eco-Innovations. The Evidence from Poland (Czynniki wplywajace na rozwoj ekoinnowacji produktowych w Polsce)

The aim of this paper is to analyse and discuss the actions undertaken by Polish enterprises operating in the field of environmentally sound technologies to create and implement innovative, environmentally friendly products (i.e. environmental innovations, eco-innovations). The qualitative study examines the impact of the determinants, such as technology, market, regulation and firm specific factors, on the development of eco-innovative solutions of analysed companies. Based on the in-depth interviews conducted with forty selected companies, it is possible to specify the determinants of firms’ eco-innovative activity and motivation factors for creating product eco-innovations in Poland. These are mainly market- and technology-related factors. This conclusion is in line with the studies emphasizing the role of market, technology and firm specific factors as the determinants of eco-innovations, but in opposition to the results supporting the thesis that regulatory aspect is highly important for the companies that create and develop environmentally friendly novelties.