Investigating the Integration of Environmental Sustainability Factors into a Filipino FMCG Company’s Innovation Process

Abstract

As governments pass new environmental laws, more companies in developing countries consider sustainability factors in their products. This case study investigates what an FMCG company headquartered in the Philippines does to ensure the integration of sustainability factors into its innovation process. While most sustainable innovation studies focus on product innovation, our research also considers the differences in the factors focused on product, packaging, and process innovations. Data was collected from interviews with managers from different functions and levels from one of the company's subsidiaries (as well as its annual sustainability report). Our findings show what sustainability factors the company considers and where they include these in the firm’s innovation process. Results also show that the integration is not limited to the innovation process but expands to the company culture, led by the top executives.