Innovation for Sustainable Development: Assessing Sustainability-Oriented Innovations in the UK Palm Oil Supply Chains

Abstract

This research evaluates the adoption of Sustainability-Oriented Innovations (SOIs) by UK food manufacturers, particularly in the palm oil sector. Despite the global palm oil industry's environmental and social impacts, such as deforestation and labour exploitation, empirical studies on SOIs are limited. This paper addressed this gap by mapping current SOI adoption patterns and assessing the effectiveness of the framework proposed by Adams et al. (2016). Findings indicate that larger organisations demonstrate engagement with advanced SOIs, driven by legislative pressures and corporate sustainability mandates. The study highlights the need for a nuanced approach within the assessed framework to better capture diverse sustainability practices and recommends enhancing transparency and incentivising SOI adoption across all business sizes. This research contributes to theoretical discourse and practical applications, offering insights for policy-makers and industry leaders.