An empirical PLS-SEM study of the contribution of circular logistics and Industry 5.0 technologies to supply chain sustainability in Moroccan industrial sectors

Designing a sustainable supply chain within the emerging Industry 5.0 framework requires the exploration of new strategies and enabling technologies. Among the key drivers of supply chain sustainability across the economic, social, and environmental dimensions, circular logistics and Industry 5.0 technologies are particularly important. However, the combined effects of these two factors remain empirically underexplored, especially in the Moroccan industrial context. Drawing on the triple bottom line theory and circular economy principles, this study aims to examine the impacts of circular logistics and Industry 5.0 technologies and to clarify the mechanisms through which they contribute to supply chain sustainability. The empirical analysis is based on 150 valid questionnaires collected from professionals working in Moroccan industrial firms. The proposed relationships were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4 software. The results confirm that circular logistics exerts a significant moderate positive effect on supply chain sustainability, while Industry 5.0 technologies also make a significant positive contribution to sustainable supply chains. In addition, the analysis validates a mediating mechanism: Industry 5.0 technologies act as enablers of circular logistics, and circular logistics mediates the relationship between Industry 5.0 technologies and supply chain sustainability across the economic, social, and environmental dimensions. This study extends the existing literature by empirically investigating the joint role of circular logistics and Industry 5.0 technologies in achieving sustainable supply chains in Morocco. It also provides theoretical insights into the integration of circular economy and Industry 5.0 perspectives and managerial implications for implementing an integrated model to support sustainability outcomes.