Abstract
Today, while all countries worldwide emphasize the significance of environmental awareness, among the sector areas, the tourism sector is the one that should focus on this matter most. The current study aimed, with examples from the tourism industry, to reveal the perspective of tourism businesses on green innovation practices, their practices, and the results obtained. After giving information about the innovation concept, scope, and types in general, this study provided fundamental explanations about the green innovation concept, scope, and types and dealt with the concept of green innovation in tourism businesses. Finally, the current study that provided general information about tourism environmental awareness certificates assessed the tourism sector by presenting examples of green innovation applications.
TopThe Concept And Scope Of Innovation
In the business world, rapidly increasing globalization, knowledge, and competition, which affect technological developments, lead businesses to more innovation (Apanasovich et al., 2016: 30). In other words, today, commercial enterprises have to attach importance to innovation concept to survive into this tough rivalry of the market (Neff & Moss, 2011). Businesses have begun to attach great importance to innovation activities, especially since the 21st century. Although some think that the innovation concept attracts exaggerated attention in some areas, today, it attracts more attention from businesses due to market conditions (Demirci, 2012: 4).
The economist Joseph Schumpeter, known for his work on innovation, stated in his work titled The Theory of Economic Development that innovation is a directly influential factor in economic growth and competition. Schumpeter (1939) expressed that an invention or a discovery would have no financial value unless it contributed to a new product or production stage. In this framework, innovation, an economically important concept, connotes transforming discoveries or inventions into economically beneficial forms (Barutçugil, 1981; Rosegger, 1996). In this context, innovation is not just an invention or development; it also encompasses institutional, organizational, technical, and social applications (Larsen, 2005).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Ecological Labeling: These signs show the products' environmental impacts at every stage and aim to inform the consumers.
Sustainability: Meeting the needs of the present generation without overexploiting resources and destroying the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Green Hotel: Touristic enterprises, having solid and liquid waste management systems, emphasizing recycling and reuse, water and energy savings, and biological diversity protection.
Green Process Innovation: It applies to using clean technology and eco-saving equipment to increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimize resource use.
Sustainable Tourism: An approach that aims to meet the needs of tourists, the tourism industry and local communities without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Clean Technology: Clean technologies include innovations related to less use of resources, energy, or by-products while trying to reduce the situations that may harm the environment during production activities.
Green Organizational Innovation: These innovations include reorganizing processes and responsibilities in the business to reduce environmental impacts.
End-of-Pipe Technologies: End-of-pipe technologies include tools such as wastewater treatment systems, exhaust cleaning equipment, sound absorbers, incinerators, etc., which are not directly part of the production process but ensure compliance with environmental protection.
Carbon Footprint: It is the sum of the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly caused by human activities.
Innovation: The first commercial use of a new process or tool; or the design, method, production, and commercial activities carried out to market a new product.
Green Product Innovation: A multifaceted process that draws attention to three chief environmental focal points (material, energy, and pollution) based on the impacts of the different stages of a product's physical life cycle (production process, product use, and disposal) on the natural environment.
Green Innovation: Improving and implementing new attitudes, ideas, products, and processes in a way that reduces negative environmental impacts and supports sustainable development goals.