Real Change for Sustainable Product Innovation

On June 12th 2009, Henrik Ny defended his doctoral dissertation on “Strategic Life-Cycle Modelling and Simulation for Sustainable Product Innovation” at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) in Karlskrona, Sweden. Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt, founder of The Natural Step, participated in Henrik Ny’s work as principal advisor.

Academics from other institutions participating in the Real Change Program, including the Technical University of Denmark, Linköping University, Lund Technical University and representatives from the UK Environment Agency and Sweden Cleantech Incubators also participated in this research.

Henrik’s work focussed on how The Natural Step Framework can guide the use and improvement of sustainable product innovation (SPI). New approaches developed in this research were highlighted in case studies of the manufacturing of televisions and high-powered industrial water jet cutting systems. The SPI approach has huge potential to help creative entrepreneurs develop the products that will help make sustainability attainable. These studies indicate that the SPI approach can create a quick and strategically relevant overview of the sustainability aspects of a product, and can help facilitate communication between top management, product developers and external stakeholders.

Henrik’s full thesis is available here.