SIA developed alongside EIA in the early 1970s as a mechanism to consider the social impacts of planned interventions. The early understanding tended to limit the practical application of SIA to the project level, usually within the context of regulatory frameworks, and primarily considered only the direct negative impacts. However, like other types of impact assessment, SIA has evolved over time and has diverged considerably from EIA.
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This paper seeks to contribute to sustainable business model innovation (SBMI) literature. It aims to do so by putting forward a relatively simple tool that simultaneously calculates the financial value alongside sustainability impact based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of a proposed business model innovation. For small businesses to validate the outcome of a proposed SBMI, some form of sustainability measurement will be necessary. Simple tooling specifically aimed at small businesses do not exist. We address this gap in how to predict or create a prognosis of the combined financial and sustainability effect of a proposed business model (BM) in a frugal (easy, time and knowledge effective) and effectual (allowing for iterations, available means and calculating affordable loss) manner. The tool is called the Pos-FSBC (Positive Financial and Sustainability Business Case). The instrument is a calculation model in Excel where users insert a limited number of numerical variables. Alongside financial variables the tool uniquely links the key variable ∆ SDG to the expected quantity sold, it then calculates the contribution to the SDGs in a relevant and measurable unit. By being successful with a sustainable innovation, the tool helps businesses drive out nonsustainable competitors. The tool has been iteratively developed and tested in several students’ projects and in a pilot with practitioners. Based on the findings we propose more iterations to develop an understanding whether the tool inspires business change and if so how.
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In the last decade, the number of local energy initiatives (LEIs) has increased in western European countries. Although several success factors and barriers in the development of LEIs have been studied by other scholars, there has been limited scholarly interest in the overall impact of LEIs so far. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore their impact by determining their achievement. Additionally, levels of engagement were used to categorise the success factors for and barriers that impede this impact. Initiatives in two provinces in the north of the Netherlands were studied. For the data collection, 84 in-depth interviews were conducted with the initiators of LEIs. In general, it can be concluded that the impact of LEIs is limited. Success factors and barriers in the development of LEIs play out at different levels of engagement: the level of the initiative itself; the community level; and the public–private level. Theoretically, this study provides empirical insights on how to measure the impact of LEIs. Furthermore, the study brings together a variety of factors that influence this impact based on the levels of engagement. Practically, this research offers indications on how to contribute to the further development of LEIs.
Client: European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) The European Institute of Innovation & Technology, a body of the European Union founded to increase European sustainable growth and competitiveness, has set up a number of Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC). One of these Communities is on climate change (Climate-KIC). In 2013, Climate-KIC in the Netherlands approved funding for the IMPACT project (IMPlementation & Adoption of Carbon footprint in Tourism travel packages). This ‘pathfinder’ project aimed to assess the viability of and market for a comprehensive carbon calculator. Such a calculator would enable enterprises in the wider travel industry to determine the carbon dioxide emissions, the main cause for climate change, of tourism products and include ‘carbon management’ in their overall policy and strategy. It is generally expected the cost for fuel and carbon will significantly rise in the near en medium future. The calculator will not only cover flights, but also other transport modes, local tourism activities and accommodations. When this pathfinder project finds interest for carbon management within the sector, we aim to start a much larger follow-up project that will deliver the calculator and tools. The IMPACT project was coordinated by the research institute Alterra Wagenigen UR, the Netherlands. Partners were: - Schiphol Airport Group, Amsterdam, The Netherlands- Technical University Berlin, Germany- TEC Conseil, Marseille, France- TUI Netherlands, Rijswijk, The Netherlands- NHTV Breda University for Applied Sciences, The NetherlandsThe project ran from September 2013 to February 2014.
In een maatjesproject wordt een deelnemer met een ondersteuningsbehoefte gekoppeld aan een vrijwilliger die deze ondersteuning kan bieden. Een professionele organisatie zorgt voor de werving, training, koppeling en ondersteuning van de maatjes. In een tijd van toenemende druk op de formele zorg en een toegenomen beroep op vrijwilligers, is de groeiende populariteit van maatjesprojecten niet verrassend. En juist in een tijd waarin leefwerelden steeds meer van elkaar gescheiden zijn, bieden maatjesprojecten mensen de mogelijkheid om ‘buiten de eigen bubbel’ te komen en ‘anderen’ te leren kennen. De ambitie van maatjesprojecten is om positieve veranderingen te realiseren. Maar welke impact hebben zij nu eigenlijk en hoe kunnen ze deze impact vergroten? Meerdere maatjesprojecten gaven aan dat hier een belangrijke kennisbehoefte voor hen ligt. Waar eerder onderzoek uitkomsten beschrijft voor deelnemers met een ondersteuningsbehoefte – zoals beter welbevinden, meer sociaal contact, en horizonverbreding – is er veel minder bekend over de uitkomsten voor vrijwilligers die hen ondersteunen. En hoewel bredere maatschappelijke impact vaak aannemelijk wordt geacht, is onderzoek hiernaar beperkt. In dit onderzoeksvoorstel, met als titel ‘Maatjes met Impact’ beschrijven we hoe wij aan deze kennisbehoefte willen bijdragen, met als centrale onderzoeksvraag: Welke impact hebben de maatjesprojecten op de deelnemers, de vrijwilligers en de bredere samenleving, en hoe kunnen de organisaties van de maatjesprojecten deze impact vergroten? We kijken op drie manieren naar impact. Eerst bekijken we impact vanuit 1) doeltreffendheid, dat gaat over vooropgestelde en beoogde doelen en 2) betekenisgeving, dat de bredere veranderingen omvat die betrokkenen zelf ervaren. Vervolgens stappen we over naar 3) vakmanschap: hoe kunnen maatjesprojecten verder professionaliseren en hun impact vergroten. We zetten hiervoor verschillende methoden in, zoals Theory of Change sessies, de Effectencalculator, interviews en vragenlijsten. Regelmatige leersessies faciliteren dat maatjesprojecten leren hoe zij hun eigen impact kunnen vergroten, en leren van elkaars ervaringen.
Circular agriculture is an excellent principle, but much work needs to be done before it can become common practice in the equine sector. In the Netherlands, diversification in this sector is growing, and the professional equine field is facing increasing pressure to demonstrate environmentally sound horse feeding management practices and horse owners are becoming more aware of the need to manage their horses and the land on which they live in a sustainable manner. Horses should be provided with a predominantly fibre-based diet in order to mimic their natural feeding pattern, however grazing impacts pasture differently, with a risk of overgrazing and soil erosion in equine pastures. Additionally, most horses receive supplements not only with concentrates and oils, but also with minerals. Though the excess minerals are excreted in the manure of horses, these minerals can accumulate in the soil or leach to nearby waterways and pollute water resources. Therefore, the postdoc research aims to answer the main question, “What horse feeding practices and measurements are needed to reduce and prevent environmental pollution in the Netherlands?” The postdoc research is composed of two components; a broad survey-based study which will generate quantitative data on horse feeding management and will also obtain qualitative data on the owners’ engagement or willingness of horse owners to act sustainably. Secondly, a field study will involve the collection of detailed data via visits to horse stables in order to gather data for nutritional analysis and to collect fecal samples for mineral analysis. Students, lecturers and partners will actively participate in all phases of the planned research. This postdoc research facilitates learning and intends to develop a footprint calculator for sustainable horse feeding to encompass the complexity of the equine sector, and to improve the Equine Sports and Business curriculum.
