Innovation: A Guide to the Literature, Research Paper

Introduction

An Innovation is a gadget or product that makes work more accessible and is considered new in the market by being different from other products. Global heatwaves continue to erupt in different parts of the world, like the USA and the UK, sparking wildfires that pollute the air (Fagerberg, 2004). The fires and air pollution results are approximately 33,000 deaths per year, and many other people are affected. The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) partners with technological and innovation firms to sustain the environment and curb air, water, and soil pollution (Kline and Rosenberg, 2010). So can technology and innovation help radically improve environmental conditions by reducing the high mortality rate caused by environmental contamination, which is also caused by poisonous chemicals? A particular organization called Ocean Cleanup, based in the Netherlands has consistently cleaned out waste from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Ocean Cleanup has combined engineering and research to determine how to reduce waste from the Great Pacific. Ocean Cleanup has teamed up with other companies to monitor plastic waste from space using satellites as one of their most significant innovations. The Ocean Cleanup is continuously developing new ways to help clean the oceans and waterways that lead to reduced water pollution (van Giessen and Wierman, 2020). Oil spills, plastic waste, and the release of poisonous gases into water and air release disease-causing microorganisms that kill not only people but also marine life. Innovation creates the preservation of natural resources that need to be met soon to maintain the natural balance. In Canada, water pollution is rising with increased global warming that has reduced the amount of water in reservoirs; industrial chemicals and waste products are dumped in big water bodies, and the release of untreated sewage, among many others.

Framing

In 2019 alone, the treatment of polluted water cost Canada $ 969 million, which includes the cost of innovation. This number is deemed higher over the years if proper infrastructure is not built. European policies, which over time have continuously underfunded water-related challenges, have widened the socio-economic gap while at the same time risking the lives of many. Canada’s growing plastic problem has continued to promote environmental degradation as Canada only recycles 11% of its plastic, leaving the rest to be mostly dumped in water resources. The plastic menace has become a global pandemic, slowly sucking the life out of our oceans. Before the 1950s, plastics were not invented, and environmental pollution was under control. However, plastic has continually been used with increased demand and technological advancement of various products. However, the Canadian government has taken measures to curb plastic and partnered with organizations like UNEP (Cordier, and Uehara, 2019).

Subjective judgments play a significant role in water preservation. An organization like Ocean Cleanup strives to make the world’s environment better and seek global recognition by doing so and working with international organizations like the UN. Ocean Cleanup aims to clean up plastics and other harmful substances dumped in the ocean. Using satellites, Ocean Cleanup can keep track of debris left in the oceans and formulate strategies to clean them (Belden et al., 2021).

Using policy framing, many organizations can now measure their work according to its importance and impact on the environment and society. The companies can also compete with each other on who has the most impact on the environment and community, and it can spark innovation of more ad advanced technology that can help maintain the environment and reduce pollution. For example, Ocean Cleanup must have come up in the Netherlands since Netherlands’ main activity is farming. With oceanic pollution, the Netherlands is also affected economically and socially. Therefore, Ocean Cleanup has become a significant company merging innovation and engineering to curb pollution, and other companies are bound to follow suit (Rochman, 2016).

Current Canadian Situation

Plastics are used for various purposes, and their uses continue to multiply over the years. However, even if they are helpful, plastics pose more environmental risks and offset the balance in marine ecosystems. Canada continues to be at a high risk of plastic pollution because it has yet to embrace the art of recycling since they only recycle approximately 11% of its plastic. Canada should learn from countries like the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Sweden, and Austria, who called upon the EU Environment Ministers and implemented policies to oversee a ban on plastics in Personal care products.

In 2015, Canada’s government also started to act on the growing plastic poll