Abstract

The article will examine grassroots and policy networks concerned with local food and traffic control and develop a typology of sustainable innovation strategies for change in health and environmental policy. The article is based on a review of the health and environmental policy literatures conducted for the EU funded Katarsis project, focusing on bottom-up innovation in oppositional or alternative networks, through which citizens take control of these aspects of their lives and/or challenge power and policy. Case studies of good practice in sustainable innovation are identified in two areas: (1) networks promoting the growing, trading and consumption of local food; and (2) networks protesting against transport policy and producing innovative design solutions to traffic problem. The sustainable innovation strategies in this field have immediate aims to improve social, mental and physical well-being and long term aims to promote global and local sustainability. This process attempts to increase citizens’ level of physical exercise, improve diet and reduce road accidents locally, while encouraging lower carbon consumption and higher social well-being through increased social interaction. The authors develop a typology of sustainable innovation strategies as networks arising from (a) social movements, (b) community based organizations, (c) socially creative individuals, or (d) local authorities and partnerships.