This paper deals with frugal innovation in relation with sustainability. We try to show frugal innovation should be considered as a mean for achieving the goals of sustainable development. Our approach is mainly analytic while we draw on a large recent empirical literature. The paper aims for to reconcile two bodies of knowledge: the field of technological frugality linked to the vast Innovation Studies and the Sustainability linked to Ecology and Environmental Economics. We distinguish three aspects: Economic sustainability refers to various strategies that facilitate resource use in an efficient and responsible way, Social sustainability refers to practices and goals that enhance social capital and promote societal wellbeing, Environmental sustainability refers to practices and decisions that benefit the natural order or reduce the ecological footprint. Various strategies are a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy conservation, renewables consumption, and a reduction in pollution. b) frugal innovation is defined as inclusive innovation having positive impacts on the environment but that is not inherently sustainable. We emphasize frugal innovation has important “eco-friendly” characteristics: It saves material and energy in manufacturing and in the use of goods. It contributes to the fair management of exhaustible resources and to sustainability by minimising resource use. c) Ethics sets up a crucial component of any sustainable behaviour especially for frugal innovation. As considered by a recent strand of literature FI is a kind of responsible innovation.
