Background: Environmental challenges such as growing waste volumes and climate change require changes in industries and society. The diffusion of sustainable technologies and the development of their technological innovation systems can drive these changes. Policy mixes can direct technological innovation systems towards further development. Not much research exists on policy mixes and their linkages to technological innovation systems. Additionally, research that takes a perspective of sustainable waste re-use and recycling technologies, such as anaerobic digestion technology in the context of the biogas industry and insect breeding and rearing technology within the context of the insect for feed industry, is scarce.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how policy mixes are linked to the development of sustainable technologies, namely the digestion of biomass and insect breeding and rearing innovation system, and their corresponding industries in the context of waste re-use and recycling.

Method: The thesis uses an abductive approach with a qualitative design and an exploratory purpose. A multiple-case study covers two industries with a total of 10 semi-structured interviews. Empirical findings are structured and analyzed within each industry and then compared in a cross-case analysis.

Conclusion:  Policy mixes appear to matter for sustainable technologies and the development of their TIS. All types of policy mixes appear to affect, both in a negative and positive way, how industries grow and TISs develop. Policy mixes and the development of TISs tend to influence each other. Systemic policies show relevance for the emergence of a TIS. This work also provides practical implications in the form of policy recommendations.