Innovation and enveronmental sustainability among SMS's

Abstract The main goal of this master thesis is to explore the relationship between sustainability and innovation within the Dutch SMEs. Although there is no consensus among scholars regarding the concept of sustainability, the overview of the relevant literature gives some insight on the origins and different interpretations of the subject throughout the years. The focus of this research is on the environmental side of sustainability and the main research question is the following: Is there a relationship between sustainability and innovation within firms? The 2008 policy panel among Dutch SMEs of the EIM research institute formed the basis of the data used in this research. This most recent survey offers the possibility to link questions regarding process- and product innovation with several questions relating to sustainability. With this data four independent variables are created which could indicate sustainability among the Dutch SMEs. Therefore, the relationship between these independent variables and the dependent variable innovation is tested. This gives an insight into the current state of sustainability among Dutch SMEs and it explores if there is a relationship with innovation. The overall outcome of the research shows a relationship between sustainability and innovation although it was not possible to indicate the direction.