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Ecosocial Innovations and Their Capacity to Integrate Ecological, Economic and Social Sustainability Transition

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  • Aila-Leena Matthies

    (Department: Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, University of Jyväskylä, Talonpojankatu 2b, 67700 Kokkola, Finland)

  • Ingo Stamm

    (Department: Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, University of Jyväskylä, Talonpojankatu 2b, 67700 Kokkola, Finland)

  • Tuuli Hirvilammi

    (Department: Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, University of Jyväskylä, Talonpojankatu 2b, 67700 Kokkola, Finland)

  • Kati Närhi

    (Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Opinkivi, Keskussairaalantie 2, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland)

Abstract

The article contributes to sustainability transition research by indicating the significance of transformative grassroots innovations in the context of social work research. We introduce the integrative concept of ecosocial innovation in order to demonstrate how grassroots innovations can successfully combine social, ecological and economic aspects of a sustainability transition. By ecosocial innovations, we refer to social innovations with a strong ecological orientation (e.g., recycling workshops, urban gardening, participatory unemployment projects and new local economies). The data consists of 50 examples of ecosocial innovations in Finland, Italy, Germany, Belgium and the UK. We investigate how ecosocial innovations interconnect ecological, economic and social goals and study the factors of their integrative crucial capacity. On the basis of qualitative data analysis and thematic categorisation of ecosocial innovations, we identify five integrative practices: diversity of activities, successful networking, addressing new livelihood, focus on food and explicit conceptual work on sustainability. Very often these integrative practices emerge as pragmatic solutions to local needs. For the participants, the ecosocial innovations can be relevant sources for new livelihood and wellbeing beyond the conventional labour market. Foremost, ecosocial innovations are valuable as forerunners for sustainability transition in practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Aila-Leena Matthies & Ingo Stamm & Tuuli Hirvilammi & Kati Närhi, 2019. "Ecosocial Innovations and Their Capacity to Integrate Ecological, Economic and Social Sustainability Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:7:p:2107-:d:221113
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    Cited by:

    1. Aila‐Leena Matthies & Jef Peeters & Tuuli Hirvilammi & Ingo Stamm, 2020. "Ecosocial innovations enabling social work to promote new forms of sustainable economy," International Journal of Social Welfare, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 378-389, October.
    2. Wenfei Xia & Baizhou Li & Shi Yin, 2020. "Identification of Influencing Factors for Sustainable Development: Evaluation and Management of Regional Innovation Performance in Heilongjiang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-55, March.
    3. Huayan Shen & Kexin Bi & Yu Gao & Meisha Wang, 2020. "How does the Traditional Heavy Industry Use Ecotechnology to Achieve the Ecological Innovation Goal? Analysis Based on Expert Survey in China’s Shipbuilding Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Maria Nijnik & Tatiana Kluvánková & Albert Nijnik & Serhiy Kopiy & Mariana Melnykovych & Simo Sarkki & Carla Barlagne & Stanislava Brnkaláková & Leonid Kopiy & Igor Fizyk & David Miller, 2020. "Is There a Scope for Social Innovation in Ukrainian Forestry?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Maria Nijnik & Tatiana Kluvánková & Mariana Melnykovych & Albert Nijnik & Serhiy Kopiy & Stanislava Brnkaľáková & Simo Sarkki & Leonid Kopiy & Igor Fizyk & Carla Barlagne & David Miller, 2021. "An Institutional Analysis and Reconfiguration Framework for Sustainability Research on Post-Transition Forestry—A Focus on Ukraine," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, April.
    6. Katharina Bohnenberger, 2020. "Money, Vouchers, Public Infrastructures? A Framework for Sustainable Welfare Benefits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-30, January.
    7. Kovanen Sunna, 2020. "Collaborative Patterns of Long-Term Sustainability in Community Social Enterprises: An International Comparative Case Study," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 39(4), pages 53-63, December.
    8. Zdenka Gyurák Babeľová & Augustín Stareček & Dagmar Cagáňová & Martin Fero & Miloš Čambál, 2019. "Perceived Serviceability of Outplacement Programs as a Part of Sustainable Human Resource Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-21, August.
    9. Octaviano Rojas Luiz & Enzo Barberio Mariano & Hermes Moretti Ribeiro da Silva, 2021. "Pro-Poor Innovations to Promote Instrumental Freedoms: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-22, December.
    10. Baxter, Jamie Scott & Chatzichristos, Georgios & Christmann, Gabriela & Hennebry, Barraí & Kovanen, Sunna & Novikova, Marina & Olmedo, Lucas & Stoustrup, Sune W. & van Twuijver, Mara & Umantseva, Anna, 2020. "Social Enterprises in Structurally Weak Rural Regions: Innovative Troubleshooters in Action. Handbook for Practitioners," IRS Dialog 6/2020, Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS).

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