The effect of Industry 4.0 technologies in fostering Circular Economy

In recent years, the focus on the circular economy (CE) and the business models implemented by companies to achieve circularity has grown exponentially. Industry 4.0 technologies (I4.0Ts) represent a valuable tool in the green transition. Companies are increasingly using technologies such as big data analysis, cloud computing, cyber-physical product systems, and the internet of things (IoT) to monitor and analyse their operations in terms of resource utilisation, especially from the perspective of the 7R CE components: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, rot, repurpose, and rethinking. However, scholars have noted a gap in research on the relationship between I4.0Ts and CE. To fill this gap, this study disseminated a questionnaire survey to all companies listed on the Italian Stock Exchange that have published the DNF report as of 31 December 2021. The findings show a positive influence of I4.0Ts on reducing resource consumption but a lower capacity of I4.0Ts to influence the reuse and recycling of CE components.