Integrate sustainability into innovation processes through these steps:
Examine how innovations and developments currently happen in your company. Integrate specific elements at each phase to ensure sustainability is considered from the outset. This starts with project definition and objectives, success metrics, problem definition, data collection and selecting inspiring best practice examples (are these notable for their sustainability?), through to solution development and finally evaluating results in terms of sustainability impact.
Develop the necessary sustainability expertise across all hierarchical levels and functions in your company. Collaborate with sustainability experts and treat sustainability in development processes as essential as safety aspects. Stay current with the latest sustainability developments and continuously adapt your requirements, processes, materials and partnerships.
Analyse the problem you want to solve with your innovation and take time to fully understand the challenges, especially for complex issues. Involve your target groups and their customers in the innovation process and test your assumptions methodically. Plan for iterations. Allow sufficient time for the market launch and form partnerships with representatives of your target groups.
Set impact-orientated goals right from the start of the project. What do you want to achieve with your innovations? What turnover are you targeting? What social and ecological value will you add? Make your goals transparent, define KPIs and report on your progress.
