Scaling sustainable technologies by creating innovation demand-pull: Strategic actions by food producers

This research identifies the strategic actions that food companies take to foster sustainability transition by inviting innovations from the packaging industry. While much research has been devoted to the role of policy in creating the need for more sustainable products and services, little is known about the role of incumbent companies in scaling innovations that advance sustainability transitions. This study draws on data collected from food producers, food packaging producers, and food packaging material producers to investigate the role of food companies in scaling sustainable technologies by creating a demand-pull for packaging innovation. We illustrate five actions undertaken by food industry firms that help to scale up the technological innovations in food packaging. These are labeled (1) Signposting, (2) Demanding, (3) Incubating, (4) Orchestrating, and (5) Integrating. Our findings indicate that incumbent firms might not just work solely to protect their competitive positions but can also play a central role in scaling sustainable technologies by producing a demand-pull for innovation. The study also provides insights into how policy pressure on one socio-technical system (food production) creates pressure on another connected socio-technical system (packaging) to scale sustainable technologies through the supply chain.

Automated summary

This study examines the strategic actions taken by food companies to drive sustainability through innovations in packaging industry, highlighting their key role in scaling sustainable technologies by creating a demand for packaging innovation. The findings suggest that incumbent firms may not only protect their competitiveness, but also play a central role in scaling sustainable technologies by driving innovation demand. The study also sheds light on how policy pressures in one socio-technical system can influence and scale sustainable technologies in a connected system through the supply chain.