Exploring the intersection of Industry 4.0 technologies, circular economy, and sustainable performance: A systematic literature review and future research directions

Recent literature highlights the pivotal role of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies in enhancing sustainable performance (SP) and facilitating the implementation of a circular economy (CE). Despite this acknowledged significance, a comprehensive understanding of their role in bridging the pivotal intersection between CE and SP remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap through a systematic literature review (SLR), which examines the intersection of CE, SP, and I4.0 technologies. Our findings reveal that I4.0 technologies significantly impact the connection between CE and SP by improving performance metrics such as resource optimization, waste reduction, and product safety.