Title: Green innovation in recycling – a preliminary analysis of reversed logistics in Norway

Authors: Bente Flygansvær; Robert Dahlstrom; Arne Nygaard

Addresses: Department of Accounting Auditing and Business Analytics, BI Norwegian Business School, N-0442 Oslo, Norway ' Department of Marketing, Farmer School of Business, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio USA; Department of Marketing, BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway ' Kristiania University College, Postboks 1155 Sentrum, Kirkegaten 24-26, 0107 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Teknologivegen 22, 2815 Gjøvik, Norway

Abstract: There has been an exponential growth of new electronic products in the global consumer market. New electronic consumer products generate a growing need for new methods, processes and entrepreneurship in recycling. In this study, we examine how entrepreneurs involved in the recycling of electronic products innovate to create a more sustainable circular economy. The recycling system must take care of electronics that contains hazardous materials. Also, a recycling system should prevent the waste of potentially useful materials. Thus, entrepreneurship is crucial to improve the handling of toxic material and processing technology to reuse valuable elements. Innovation therefore is essential to facilitate a sustainable recycling process. In this study, we analyse entrepreneurial innovation in the light of the organisational structure of the recycling system. Following a study of 108 recycling entrepreneurs, competition and specific investments are found to be important factors that drive the sustainable innovation that make Norway one of the countries with the highest recycling rates of electronic and electric waste.

Keywords: electronics industry; sustainable entrepreneurship; circular systems; ecological innovation; reverse logistics; reverse distribution; competition; specific investments; competitive advantage; electrical and electronic equipment waste; WEEE; corporate entrepreneurship; Norway.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2019.104860

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2019 Vol.15 No.6, pp.719 - 733

Received: 16 May 2017
Accepted: 24 Mar 2018
Published online: 05 Feb 2020 *