Integrating Circular Economy Concerns Into the Industry 4.0 Roadmaps of Companies

Abstract

The concept of circular economy (CE) aims to promote sustainable resource utilization, minimize environmental impacts, and create societal, economic, and business value. Simultaneously, the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 (I4.0) offers companies the opportunity to enhance their operational efficiency. Various process models have been proposed to assist companies in developing a digitalisation strategy roadmap. This chapter presents a thorough analysis of how CE utilizes I4.0 technologies to transition from a conventional linear economy to a circular one. The authors have then first proposed a generic three-stage process to establish a I 4.0 strategy roadmap, then conducted an exhaustive review of the latest literature on CE and I4.0 theory to explore the interrelation between these concepts and ascertain the extent to which I4.0 technologies facilitate progress towards a more sustainable industry.