Analysis of green chemistry patents as indicators of environmental research and development
Subject Areas : environmental managementMaryam Ghaemi 1 , Abolghasem Taghvaie Yazdli 2
1 - Faculty Member, Department of Marine Sciences, Iranian National Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences, Tehran, Iran.* (Corresponding Author)
2 - MSc in Technology Management, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords: Patent, Green Chemistry, Environment, research and development,
Abstract :
Background and Objective: Considering the enormous growth in the number of patents worldwide, and the increasing use of patent data in economic and environmental analysis, the aim of this paper is to analyze patent activity in green chemistry with the use of patent data in order to help the understanding of the patterns of environmental research and development and sustainable development. Method: In this study to analyze green chemistry technology invention, after extracting the appropriate search term, search by "keyword" in the abstract, title, and claim (s) of patent was done. To this end, those inventions related to green chemistry technology which have been registered within the 1993 to 2013 in different countries or organizations were evaluated using QPAT patent database. Findings: Patents in the field of green chemistry are mainly originated from activities of factories and companies. In general, chemical and electronic sectors hold the most patents. Japan is the largest inventor region with 32% of all green chemistry patents. China is the second largest region, holding 29% of patents, followed by the United States (24%), Europe (14 %) and the rest of the world (1%). Conclusion: The economic incentives, legal and regulatory pressures and avoidance from charges by governments, citizens and environmental organizations were the major factors to move towards innovation in cleaner technologies and more favorable technological applications. The use of green chemistry technologies has proven to be an intelligent business strategy that can provide both environmental and economic benefits and can induce further technology diffusion. The results of this study provide helpful information for developing R&D strategies, policies, planning and management of environmental issues. The obtained results can be used to build a technology strategy in a private company and to make policy at a public level.
1- , D. L., Kirchhoff, M. M., Lankey, R. L., 2002. Green Chemistry: Environment, Economics, and Competitiveness Corporate Environmental Strategy, 9.
3- Anastas, P. T., Warner, J. C., 1998. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, Oxford University Press: New York, p. 30.
4- Johnstone, N., Haščič, I., 2009. Indicators of Innovation and Transfer in Environmentally Sound Technologies: Methodological Issues.
5- OECD, 2011. Sustainable Chemistry: Evidence on Innovation from Patent Data.
6- Nameroff, T. J., Garant, R. J., Albert, M. B., 2004. Adoption of Green Chemistry: An Analysis Based on Us Patents, Research Policy, Vol. 33, pp. 959-974.
7- Oltra, V., Kemp, R., de Vries, F., 2008. Patents as a Measure for Eco-Innovation, Report for MEI project.
8- Lanjouw, J. O., Mody, A., 1996. Innovation and the International Diffusion of Environmentally Responsive Technology, Research Policy, Vol. 25, pp. 549-571.
9- Linthorst, J. A., 2010. An Overview: Origins and Development of Green Chemistry, Found Chem.Vol. 1, pp. 55-68.
10- Marinova, D., McAleer, M., 2003. Environmental Technology Strengths: International Rankings based on US patent data.
11- Johnstone, N., 2005. Technological Innovation and Patent Activity: Initial Empirical Results and Project Progress,Environmental Policy, Report of Working Party on National Environmental Policy, Washington D.C.
12- OECD, 2006. Patent Database.
13- Florida, R., 1996. Lean and Green: The Move to Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing, California Management Review, Vol. 39, pp. 80-105.
14- Christmann, P., 2000. Effects of “Best Practices” of Environmental Management on Cost Advantage: The Role of Complementary Assets, Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 43, pp. 663-680.
15- Archibugi, D., Pianta, M., 1996. Measuring Technological Change through Patents and Innovation Surveys,Technovation, Vol. 16, pp. 451-468.
16- Paci, R., Sassu, A., Usai, S., 1997. International Patenting and National Technological Specialization, Technovation. Vol. 17, pp. 25-38.
17- Pavitt, K., 1985. Patent Statistics as Indicators of Innovative Activities: Possibilities and Problem,Scientometrics, Vol. 7, pp. 77-99.
18- Ashford, N. A., 1993. Understanding Technological Responses of Industrial Firms to Environmental Problems: Implications for Government Policy, In: Fischer, K., Schot, J. (Eds.), Environmental Strategies for Industry: International Perspectives on Research Needs and Policy Implications, Island Press, Washington, pp. 277-307.
19- Fenn, S. A., 1995. Green Heat: Pressures Being Experienced by the Business Sector to Improve Environmental Performance, Technology Review, Vol. 98, pp. 62-63.
20- Hart, S.L., 1995. A Natural-Resource-Based View of the Firm, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 20, pp. 986-1015.
21- Lave, L. B., Matthews, H. S., 1996. It’s Easierto Say Green than be Green; Corporate Environmental Awareness, Technology Review, Vol. 8, pp. 70-71.
22- Tushman, M., Anderson, P., 1997. Technology Cycles, Innovation Streams, and Ambidextrous Organizations: Organization Renewal through Innovation Streams and Strategic ChangeIn: Tushman, M., Anderson, P. (Eds.), Managing Strategic Innovation and Change. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 3-23.
23- Vickers, I., Cordey-Hayes, M., 1999. Cleaner Production and Organizational Learning, Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, Vol. 11, pp. 75-94.
24- Sharfman, M. P., Meo, M., Ellington, R. T., 2000. Regulation, Business, and Sustainable Development, American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 44, pp. 277-302.
25- Howes, R., Skea, J., Whelan, B., 1997. Clean and Competitive Earthscan, London.
26- Sale, K., 1993. The Green Revolution, Hill and Wang, New York.
27- Vogan, C. R., 1996. Pullution Abatement and Control Expenditures,1972-1994. Survey of Current Business, Vol. 76, pp. 48-67.
28- Moomaw, W. R., 2001. The Environmental Era-From Two Sides of the Atlantic, Update IHDP, Nr. 3.
29- Barnard, B., 1996. Does business want a green Europe? Europe, Vol. 355, pp. 22-24.
30- Resource Renewal Institute, Environmental Atlas, 2002. Available at: http://www.rri.org/envatlas/asia/japan/jp-dev.html.
31- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Environmental Performance Reviews,2002. OECD, Paris, Japan.
32- Medhurst, J., 1993. Environmental Costs and Industry CompetitivenessIn: Environmental Policies and Industrial Competitiveness, OECD, Paris, pp. 37-47.
33- Brunnermeier, S. B., Cohen, M. A., 2003. Determinants of Environmental Innovation in US Manufacturing Industries, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Vol. 45, pp. 278-293.
34- Jaffe, A. B., Palmer, K., 1997. Environmental Regulation and Innovation: a Panel Data Study, The Review of Economics and Statistics, Vol. 79, pp. 610-619.
35- Porter, M. E., van der Linde, C., 1995. Toward a New Conception of the Environment-Competitiveness Relationship,Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 9, pp. 97-118.
