Frugal Innovation and Innovative Creation

6From Environmental Innovation (EI) to Frugal Environmental Innovation (FEI)

We will try to position frugal environmental innovation (FEI) in relation to environmental innovation (EI) by starting with the link between environmental innovation¹ (EI) and frugal innovation² (FI). We will propose, on the basis of the rudiments already provided (Chapter 5), a stable foundation for specifying the new concept mentioned above (Chapter 5), and unexplored elsewhere, of frugal environmental innovation (FEI; see Bouvier-Patron (2017b, 2020)). As an indispensable foundation for any subsequent potential empirical investigation, this chapter will therefore be theoretical in essence while being concerned with the predictive scope, as well as the operability through the proposed matrix tool.

In order to clearly establish the concept, we will rely on a reasoned reading of the relevant academic literature, giving priority to the pioneering authors. Indeed, EI is quite heterogeneous and requires clarification, especially as frugality seems to be excluded from it. As for frugality, with the associated FI, it can be implemented without apprehending the question of the impact on the NE: protean, frugality must be refocused on a form that can be reconciled with EI.

The innovation that is usually promoted in the west is very often of a technological nature, and therefore, sophisticated (like Altran). The frugal alternative (Radjou et al. 2012) is primarily of Indian inspiration.

Some authors (Zeschky ...