The use of collaboration networks in search of eco-innovation: A systematic literature review

Governments have increasingly encouraged firms to have products, cleaner production processes and service provision with less ecological impact. Therefore, eco-innovation has become the focus of many firms, and consequently, researchers and managers have paid more attention to this aspect. However, only a few studies provide a global research panorama. The main aim of this study is to review the literature on collaboration between organisations towards eco-innovation, and in doing so, orient future research on this very important area. To achieve this purpose, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was undertaken, using the Scopus database. In total, 40 publications dealing with the main studies related to collaborative eco-innovation were identified and analysed. The results obtained led to the conclusion that eco-innovation can have important effects on organisational performance, if carried out in collaboration. However, it is necessary to know about and make an appropriate choice of partners to pursue this type of innovation. Thus, the main contribution of this study is to bring together in one single research the most relevant collaborative studies for eco-innovation, in order to follow future research paths in this important theme of the world economy. Future lines of research in this area are also presented.