Environmental and energy informatics: Polish approaches in eco-innovation

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to present eco-innovation implementation in Poland and in some European countries. I assess factor influencing on ecoinnovation in small medium enterprises. Both current and expected energy and material prices are particularly important for pushing firms to reduce pollution, decrease hazardous substances and increase recyclability of products. Cost savings are an important main incentive for reducing energy and material use, and for ecoinnovation. Customer requirements are very important source for eco-innovations, particularly with regard to products with improved environmental performance and process innovations that increase material efficiency, reduce energy consumption and waste.