Integration of Industry 4.0 Technologies in the Biobased Value Chain to Facilitate Sustainability Assessment: A Review

ABSTRACT The advent of Industry 4.0 technologies has significantly impacted industries, including biobased product manufacturing. Recognizing their potential to enhance product circularity and sustainability, this study investigates the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into the biobased product value chain. It also explores how these technologies aid sustainability assessments across the biobased manufacturing industry. Through a systematic literature review from January 1991 to June 2023, 37 relevant articles were identified from over 2,000 results. These articles address three key questions concerning product sustainability assessment approaches, the use of Industry 4.0 technologies for evaluating the sustainability of both conventional and biobased products, and the integration of these technologies with sustainability assessment methodologies, engineering tools, and software. The review highlights challenges within existing sustainability assessment methods and emphasizes the need for a holistic and integrated sustainability strategy across the product life cycle. It also demonstrates how Industry 4.0 technologies can overcome limitations in traditional methods, enabling better evaluation across the biobased value chain. Lastly, the article suggests future research opportunities, including exploring Industry 4.0-driven symbiotic relationships between industries to create circular economy models that reduce waste and enhance resource efficiency.