Ecotechnology used in research literature: a systematic review and synthesis

The authors conducted a systematic review of 1,221 articles across nine bibliographic databases to define "ecotechnology," identifying 657 unique articles. Analysis of 77 articles focused on carbon and nutrients revealed that nearly half used the term as a buzzword. From 49 explicit definitions, the authors identified 38 themes, which were clustered into nine groups covering nature-society integration, societal and environmental benefits, profitability, hard technology (equipment), and soft technology (behaviours).

• A systematic review of nine bibliographic databases identified 1,221 articles using the term "ecotechnology," resulting in 657 unique articles.
• Among 77 articles concerning carbon and nutrients that provided definitions, nearly 50% utilized "ecotechnology" as a buzzword.
• The authors derived a conceptual framework from 49 explicit definitions, identifying 38 themes clustered into nine categories: combining processes/integrating nature and society; good for society; good for nature; profitability/efficiency; making nature work for society; making society work for nature; improving processes/learning from the environment; components, equipment, machinery (hard technology); and processes and behaviours (soft technology).

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2018). Ecotechnology used in research literature: a systematic review and synthesis. https://www.sei.org/publications/ecotechnology-used-research-literature-systematic-review-synthesis/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Ecotechnology used in research literature: a systematic review and synthesis. 2018. https://www.sei.org/publications/ecotechnology-used-research-literature-systematic-review-synthesis/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Ecotechnology used in research literature: a systematic review and synthesis |date=18 September 2018 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/ecotechnology-used-research-literature-systematic-review-synthesis/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2018ecotechnology, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Ecotechnology used in research literature: a systematic review and synthesis}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2018}, month = sep, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/ecotechnology-used-research-literature-systematic-review-synthesis/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }