ABSTRACT
The world market for environmental equipment and services is worth around $210 billion and expenditure has been focused primarily on countries with highly-industrialised economies. This chapter addresses the issue of some fundamental changes to its size, geography and make-up that have implications for market players. It looks at the current make-up of the industry, the key factors driving the changes, the current dynamics of the market and the consequences for corporate strategies. It is based on the study, The UK Environmental Industry: Succeeding in the Changing Global Market, carried out for the Department of Trade and Industry by ECOTEC Research and Consulting. The chapter focuses on market drivers, first in developed markets, then in developing markets and finally on market drivers affecting both markets. The change drivers have led to altered demand patterns in the environmental industry. In particular they have led to: a changing customer base; changing customer needs; and changing supply potential.
