Lock-in and path dependence: an evolutionary approach to eco-innovations

The article presents an overview of the evolutionary approach to eco-innovations with particular emphasis on the role of lock-in and path dependence. In doing so, it focuses on the processes of radical change and the transition of technological systems that require the co-evolution of technology, firms, institutions and the society as a whole. Starting from clarifying the different notions of eco-innovations used in the literature, the article discusses the issues of lock-in and path dependence, by investigating the technological, organizational, institutional and social processes that strengthen as well as weaken path dependence. To this aim, it draws upon the evolutionary literature and discusses the relevance of path dependence and lock-in processes to understand the development of eco-innovations.