Title: The effect of Industry 4.0 technologies in fostering a circular economy

Authors: Raffaela Nastari; Alfredo Celentano; Sabrina Pisano; Matteo Pozzoli

Addresses: Department of Law, University of Naples Parthenope, Via Generale Parisi 13, Italy ' Department of Economics, Marconi University of Rome, Roma, Italy ' Department of Law, University of Naples Parthenope, Via Generale Parisi 13, Italy ' Department of Law, University of Naples Parthenope, Via Generale Parisi 13, Italy

Abstract: In recent years, the focus on the circular economy (CE) and the business models implemented by companies to achieve circularity has grown exponentially. Industry 4.0 technologies (I4.0Ts) represent a valuable tool in the green transition. Companies are increasingly using technologies such as big data analysis, cloud computing, cyber-physical product systems, and the internet of things (IoT) to monitor and analyse their operations in terms of resource utilisation, especially from the perspective of the 7R CE components: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, rot, repurpose, and rethinking. However, scholars have noted a gap in research on the relationship between I4.0Ts and CE. To fill this gap, this study disseminated a questionnaire survey to all companies listed on the Italian Stock Exchange that have published the DNF report as of 31 December 2021. The findings show a positive influence of I4.0Ts on reducing resource consumption but a lower capacity of I4.0Ts to influence the reuse and recycling of CE components.

Keywords: Industry 4.0; circular economy; business model; 7R components; sustainability; sustainable development goals; survey; green transition; italian companies; technologies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDCET.2024.136875

International Journal of Digital Culture and Electronic Tourism, 2024 Vol.4 No.3, pp.266 - 287

Received: 20 Nov 2022
Accepted: 24 Oct 2023
Published online: 23 Feb 2024 *

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