Translating Sustainabilities between Green Niches and Socio-Technical Regimes

TLDR

Green niches are increasingly recognized for their role in sustainability, yet the literature has not adequately addressed how they interact with incumbent socio‑technical regimes. This paper investigates socio‑technical translations between niches and regimes. The authors analyze niche‑regime interactions in UK food and housing, focusing on eco‑housing and organic food development. They identify three types of translations that influence the sustainabilities of both niches and regimes, showing that not all flows are from niche to regime.

Abstract

A role for green niches has risen to prominence in the environment and innovation literature. The role of idealistic enthusiasts in the creation of sustainability initiatives in niches is widely recognized. The importance of tensions in incumbent socio-technical regimes is acknowledged to provide niches with development opportunities. However, the literature currently gives insufficient consideration to the processes by which niches and regimes interact and are interdependent. This paper addresses this by considering socio-technical translations between niches and regimes. It does so by analysing niche-regime interactions in the areas of food and housing and the development of eco-housing and organic food in the UK. Three kinds of translations are identified that affect the sustainabilities practiced in niches and regimes, and which do not all flow from green niche to incumbent regime.