In the past ecological (and social) aspects were often dealt with by the legal or compliance department. Ever more often ecological issues are linked with eco-innovations. This almost paradigmatic change of perspective entails that ecological topics are not just seen as cost drivers but as a management area relevant to increase competitiveness and to create business cases for sustainability. Although this view is increasingly adopted it remains fuzzy what really constitutes processes of sustainability innovations. Large companies often have R&D and sustainability departments driving eco-innovations in a professional manner. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), however, depend on other means such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) which can play an important role for the diffusion of eco-innovations in SMEs.
