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Sustainability
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Achieving Sustainability: Role of Technology and Innovation
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Achieving Sustainability: Role of Technology and Innovation

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Ecology and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 11674

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Manjula S. Salimath

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Management, G. Brint Ryan College of Business, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
Interests: sustainability; technology; innovation; ethics; international business; digitization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to submit papers to this Special Issue on “Achieving Sustainability: Role of Technology and Innovation” in Sustainability. There is increasing awareness of the importance of sustainability to people, organizations, the environment, countries, and societies around the globe. The interconnectedness and interdependency between man and nature is undisputable. The finite nature of resources and the rising demand for them has adversely affected the planet’s ability to rejuvenate and replenish its natural state. For example, soil degradation, chemical dumping, and toxic waste have adversely impacted the ability of future generations to have the same lifestyle and abundance as their parents. One of the many ways to address this is to rely on technology and innovation as solutions to recover and ensure more sustainable practices. Sustainable technology was named as one of the top strategic technology trends in 2024 by Gartner, a research and advisory committee, and offers significant opportunities for researchers and businesses. Hence, we call on potential authors to explicate the connection between sustainability, technology, and innovation. More importantly, we wish to receive diverse and multidisciplinary perspectives on the role of technology and innovation in driving and achieving sustainability. We welcome insights enriched from a variety of disciplines such as management, international business, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation studies, sociology, and more. We are open to theoretical and empirical papers as well as a variety of methodological perspectives that are both qualitative and quantitative.

Some relevant questions include but are not limited to the following:

  • What is the role of technology and innovation in developing or attaining sustainability?
  • What theoretical frameworks best explain the relationship between sustainability, technology, and innovation?
  • What are the benefits of considering a technology/innovation angle for sustainability?
  • What are the downsides of this angle?
  • Who are the beneficiaries—is it corporations, individuals, society, the environment, or governments?
  • What are the downsides of a technology and innovation management approach to sustainability?
  • What does history indicate—the past, present, and future of such an approach?
  • Are there any case studies or longitudinal assessments that can inform us?
  • Are there any country-specific comparisons that would be useful?
  • What are the similarities and differences between the global north vs. global south?
  • What are the key sustainable technologies that are likely to drive future trends?
  • How do digitization and digital technology impact sustainability efforts?

We encourage rigorous and thoughtful explorations of this Special Issue topic. We expect the published papers to contribute to the stream of literature on sustainable technology and innovation within the fields of management, strategy, entrepreneurship, and international business.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Manjula S. Salimath
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainability
  • technology
  • innovation
  • digitization
  • management

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1125 KB  
Article
Aligning Digital Futures with Ecological Citizenship for Sustainability
by Luke Gooding and Robert Phillips
Sustainability 2025, 17(18), 8102; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188102 - 9 Sep 2025
Viewed by 404
Abstract
As digital technology continues to embed and influence everyday life, its social and environmental impacts need to be addressed seriously. This article introduces and clarifies the concept of Ecological Citizenship (EC), defining it as a form of citizenship that extends rights [...] Read more.
As digital technology continues to embed and influence everyday life, its social and environmental impacts need to be addressed seriously. This article introduces and clarifies the concept of Ecological Citizenship (EC), defining it as a form of citizenship that extends rights and duties beyond the human social sphere into ecological systems, requiring individuals, communities, and institutions to take responsibility for the environmental consequences of their digital practices. Unlike traditional forms of citizenship tied to legal or territorial boundaries, EC is grounded in shared ecological accountability and civic responsibility. We argue that EC offers a distinctive lens for shaping the evolution of a Sustainable Digital Society (SDS), where digital innovation and sustainability are co-aligned. Through theoretical analysis and case studies, this article examines how EC can support community-based, policy-led, and design-focused approaches towards digital sustainability. We look to highlight ways in which EC can be embedded in digital behaviour, infrastructure, and product design while acknowledging barriers such as the digital divide, unequal resource allocation, and adverse policy settings. This research aims to offer policymakers, technologists, and educators’ pragmatic advice for realising sustainable design, environmental literacy, and universal digital access. The study looks to argue for a more systemic reconsideration of digital development, a consideration which places environmental values at the forefront of technological progress, to ensure that digital transformation is both socially equitable and beneficial to planetary well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainability: Role of Technology and Innovation)
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32 pages, 3244 KB  
Article
Exploring Industry 4.0 Technologies Implementation to Enhance Circularity in Spanish Manufacturing Enterprises
by Juan-José Ortega-Gras, María-Victoria Bueno-Delgado, José-Francisco Puche-Forte, Josefina Garrido-Lova and Rafael Martínez-Fernández
Sustainability 2025, 17(17), 7648; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17177648 - 25 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1023
Abstract
Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is reshaping manufacturing by integrating advanced digital technologies and is increasingly seen as an enabler of the circular economy (CE). However, most research treats digitalisation and circularity separately, with limited empirical insight regarding their combined implementation. This study investigates I4.0 [...] Read more.
Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is reshaping manufacturing by integrating advanced digital technologies and is increasingly seen as an enabler of the circular economy (CE). However, most research treats digitalisation and circularity separately, with limited empirical insight regarding their combined implementation. This study investigates I4.0 adoption to support sustainability and CE across industries, focusing on how enterprise size influences adoption patterns. Based on survey data from 69 enterprises, the research examines which technologies are applied, at what stages of the product life cycle, and what barriers and drivers influence uptake. Findings reveal a modest but growing adoption led by the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and integrated systems. While larger firms implement more advanced tools (e.g., robotics and simulation), smaller enterprises favour accessible solutions (e.g., IoT and cloud computing). A positive link is observed between digital adoption and CE practices, though barriers remain significant. Five main categories of perceived obstacles are identified: political/institutional, financial, social/market-related, technological/infrastructural, and legal/regulatory. Attitudinal resistance, particularly in micro and small enterprises, emerges as an additional challenge. Based on these insights, and to support the twin transition, the paper proposes targeted policies, including expanded funding, streamlined procedures, enhanced training, and tools for circular performance monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainability: Role of Technology and Innovation)
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34 pages, 4422 KB  
Article
Spatial Effects of Financial Agglomeration and Green Technological Innovation on Carbon Emissions
by Zhijie Hao, Ziqian Zhao, Zhiwei Pan, Decai Tang, Meiling Zhao and Hui Zhang
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2746; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062746 - 19 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 847
Abstract
Financial agglomeration and green technology innovation are important measures to reduce carbon emissions and promote the development of a green economy. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2011 to 2020, this paper uses the locational entropy [...] Read more.
Financial agglomeration and green technology innovation are important measures to reduce carbon emissions and promote the development of a green economy. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2011 to 2020, this paper uses the locational entropy method and the carbon emission coefficient measurement method provided in the IPCC inventory guide to establish a spatial econometric model to explore the specific impact of financial agglomeration and green technology innovation on carbon emission. The results show that (1) both financial agglomeration and green technology innovation will reduce carbon emissions; (2) when considering the spatial effect, financial agglomeration and green technology innovation will effectively reduce carbon emissions; (3) the influence of financial agglomeration and green technology innovation on carbon emissions has regional heterogeneity. Only green technology innovation can significantly reduce carbon emissions in the eastern region. Financial agglomeration and green technology innovation in the central region can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Financial agglomeration in the western region can significantly reduce carbon emissions, but green technology innovation will lead to an increase in carbon emissions. This paper provides useful suggestions for optimizing the financial industry’s structure, improving the level of green technology, and alleviating environmental pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainability: Role of Technology and Innovation)
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21 pages, 4170 KB  
Article
The Role of Clothing Technology in Supporting Sustainable Fashion in the Post-COVID-19 Era
by Xue Min, Lei Shen and Xiangfang Ren
Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8287; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198287 - 24 Sep 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 8130
Abstract
With the outbreak and ongoing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a wave of post-COVID-19 zeitgeist has emerged worldwide. From the perspective of fashion trends, an increasing number of consumers are demanding higher standards of health, environmental friendliness, and sustainability. Over the past 10 [...] Read more.
With the outbreak and ongoing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a wave of post-COVID-19 zeitgeist has emerged worldwide. From the perspective of fashion trends, an increasing number of consumers are demanding higher standards of health, environmental friendliness, and sustainability. Over the past 10 years, the integration of technology in clothing has facilitated continuous updates in both functionality and aesthetics. This article aims to explore the relationship between clothing technology and sustainable fashion in the post-COVID-19 era, seeking to enhance the development and innovation of sustainable fashion through the empowerment of clothing technology. This study conducts extensive research on the literature and online case studies, categorizing empowered sustainable fashion technology design cases into six major categories and four directional themes. It introduces an innovative sustainable fashion design assessment model, PCBS (Product, Customer, Business, Society). Subsequently, the knowledge framework is applied in design practice alongside consumer research to validate the system’s usability. Furthermore, this research synthesizes and summarizes the methods through which fashion technology can support sustainable fashion in the post-pandemic era. Designers and practitioners can reference these insights for more advanced sustainable design initiatives, thereby promoting a lower-carbon and environmentally friendly system that drives global innovation and development in a sustainable society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainability: Role of Technology and Innovation)
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