Similar to ecosystems, socioeconomic systems, economies embedded in the environment, are characterized by
their own metabolism which uses energy and material flows to maintain and reproduce itself. Sustainable
socioeconomic systems require eco-efficiency. The European Commission’s ‘green’ approach to corporate social
responsibility is that companies are responsible for their impact on society and the natural environment and also for
the behavior of their business partners. For socioeconomic survival analysis it is imperative to mention that together
with the beneficial aspects of ‘greening’ industrial activity (supporting increasing levels of global consumption under
the ‘economic growth’ development paradigm) are packaged great risks. This paper discusses the need for ecoefficiency, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and eco-innovation, bearing in mind the risks that transnational value
chains could bring for the less developed countries. The case of Romania’s eco-innovation performance over the years
is discussed
