MANAGEMENT INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: BEHAVIOR AND REFLECTIONS ON THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Abstract

The chemical industry products are supplied to almost all kinds of activities. Any change in the composition of substances, aiming less aggression to the environment, may cause changes on the behavior of the almost entire production chain, and this result will be perceived by reducing the environmental impact. This is one of the main reasons leading industries of this sector to engage activities aimed at the sustainability of their operations, particularly in regard to the social and environmental issues. In this context, the study identifies how companies of the chemical industry manage innovation practices oriented towards sustainability. To develop the study were analyzed industries installed in Brazil, recognized by the adoption of innovation practices and committed to sustainable development. The data of this study were obtained from semi-structured interviews conducted with the main representatives of the R&D areas for the four companies analyzed, and supplemented by secondary data published in the companies’ sustainability reports and their respective websites. The conceptual model used was adapted from Hansen, Grosse-Dunker and Reichwald (2009), which presuppose that the management of sustainable innovation occurs through the incorporation of five dimensions of analysis: integration of the sustainability criteria, integration stakeholders and users, expansion of the product-service system; marketing of the innovation aimed at the sustainability and awareness of the sustainability context. The analysis of data obtained reveled that companies keep investments in eco-efficient manufacturing, integrating the sustainability criteria in the development of processes and products adding value to products and processes. The management of partnerships with stakeholders for technology creation, investments in products with socioecological appeal and the consciousness by the leaders on the importance of sustainability in the company´s operations and products are also part of main results. However, it is noted that a strategy exploited by only a few companies focus on the inclusion of a sustainable management as an expansion of product-service system that could bring in new kinds of relationships between stakeholders and partners, adding value to the product.