Integrating Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy: A Conceptual Framework for Sustainable Manufacturing

The integration of Industry 4.0 and the circular economy has gained significant attention to achieve sustainable and innovative practices in the manufacturing industry. This paper presents a conceptual framework for integrating Industry 4.0 and the circular economy, based on a systematic literature review. The review synthesizes and critically analyzes existing research to identify key elements of a circular and sustainable production system and demonstrates how Industry 4.0 technologies can be leveraged to support these elements. The framework encompasses four essential components: Desired Environmental Performance, Circular Economy Strategies, Technology Enablers, and Organizational Factors. These components provide guidance for manufacturing firms in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies to promote circular economy principles and achieve environmental sustainability. The findings of this study contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between Industry 4.0 and the circular economy, paving the way for future research and practical implementation in the manufacturing industry. (c) 2023 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V.