Assessing handprint potentials for business's eco-innovation

Abstract Exploring how businesses can adopt eco-innovations, which may involve their market expansion, and meet their climate change targets, was the objective of this research. We investigated to what extent an organization with a milk packaging eco-innovation could create a positive impact on climate and calculated their potential carbon handprint using the Sustainability and Health Initiative for NetPositive Enterprise (SHINE) Handprint assessment method. Changes and potential handprint pathways were defined from the perspective of two actors who can bring about the change: organization and consumers. The potential carbon handprints were calculated for changes resulting from switching from current milk packaging to eco-innovation at the global milk market. The assessment explored options for organization to realize handprints within their own markets and via market expansion in their competitors’ markets. Results showed that SHINE Handprint assessment provides a systemic approach for organizations to adopt eco-innovations, pursue market expansion, and reduce overall sector's climate change impacts.