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Sustainability
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Digital Technology for Circular Economy Towards Sustainable Development
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Digital Technology for Circular Economy Towards Sustainable Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 5446

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Abderahman Rejeb

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Guest Editor
Department of Management and Law, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Interests: sustainable supply chain management; logistics; circular economy; technology applications; digitalization; accounting; finance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Suhaiza Zailani

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Guest Editor
Department of Decision Science, Ungku Aziz Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Interests: supply chain management; logistics; operations management; management science; halal
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Steve Simske

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Systems Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Interests: imaging; security; analytics; robotics; biomedical engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The escalating environmental challenges and the imperative for sustainable development necessitate innovative solutions that align with circular economy principles. This Special Issue on "Digital Technology for Circular Economy towards Sustainable Development" aims to explore the confluence of digital innovations and circular economy strategies to foster sustainability. In this Special Issue, we invite a diverse array of research that examines how digital technology can be leveraged to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of circular economy practices, thereby promoting sustainable development goals.

Conceptually, a circular economy (CE) offers a regenerative approach aimed at minimizing waste, optimizing resource use, and enhancing sustainability through the continual use of resources. Digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, and big data analytics, hold transformative potential to enable and accelerate these CE practices. By integrating these technologies, businesses and societies can achieve higher resource productivity, foster economic growth, and reduce environmental impacts.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary research that addresses the integration of digital technologies with circular economy principles to advance sustainable development goals (SDGs). It seeks to uncover how digital solutions can streamline CE processes and create new opportunities for sustainable practices that are economically viable and environmentally sound.

Submissions are encouraged from a variety of perspectives and disciplines including, but not limited to, environmental sciences, sustainability studies, business and economics, information technology, and engineering. The scope of the Special Issue includes the following:

  • Case studies on digital technology applications in CE: Empirical research demonstrating real-world applications and the impacts of digital technologies in enhancing circular economy practices.
  • Theoretical and conceptual models: Innovative frameworks and models that integrate digital technology and CE principles.
  • Policy and regulatory considerations: Analysis of policy and regulatory frameworks that facilitate or hinder the adoption of digital technologies in circular economies.
  • Socio-economic impacts: Studies on the socio-economic implications of adopting digital technologies in circular economy practices, including job creation, economic resilience, and social equity.
  • Technological challenges and solutions: Discussions on the technological barriers to digital technology adoption in CE and proposed solutions.

This Special Issue is methodologically inclusive, welcoming submissions employing quantitative, qualitative, conceptual, and review methodologies. It emphasizes a holistic approach and encourages submissions that do not focus narrowly on specific methodologies but rather on the broader applicability and implications of research findings.

Dr. Abderahman Rejeb
Prof. Dr. Suhaiza Zailani
Prof. Dr. Steve Simske
Guest Editors

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

  • circular economy
  • digital innovation
  • sustainable development
  • resource efficiency
  • environmental sustainability
  • internet of things (IoT)
  • artificial intelligence (AI)
  • blockchain technology
  • data analytics
  • policy and regulation

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 266 KiB  
Article
Research on Impact of Digital Economy on Real Economy Based on Perspective of Coupling and Coordination of Manufacturing and Service Industries
by Fangli He and Hongzhen Qin
Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020729 - 17 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1007
Abstract
Amid the global wave of digital transformation, advancing the sustainable growth of the real economy has emerged as a key strategic priority. Drawing on panel data from 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) between [...] Read more.
Amid the global wave of digital transformation, advancing the sustainable growth of the real economy has emerged as a key strategic priority. Drawing on panel data from 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) between 2013 and 2021, this study utilizes fixed effects and mediation effect models to investigate both the direct and indirect pathways through which the digital economy drives the sustainable development of the real economy. The results indicate that (1) the digital economy exerts a significant direct positive influence on the real economy, demonstrating its role in spurring growth and innovation while injecting fresh momentum into sustainable development. (2) It also indirectly facilitates the real economy’s sustainability by promoting the coupling and coordination of the manufacturing and service sectors, emphasizing the importance of industrial synergy in achieving sustainable economic growth. (3) Regional analysis reveals that the digital economy’s positive direct effect on the real economy is particularly evident in North China and the Southeast and Southwest regions. Furthermore, in the Southeast and Southwest, the mediation effect of industrial coupling and coordination further strengthens the sustainability of the real economy. This study offers theoretical insights into the integration of the manufacturing and service industries and provides practical guidance for advancing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also highlights policy recommendations for China to build a modern industrial system and achieve high-quality economic growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology for Circular Economy Towards Sustainable Development)
28 pages, 1465 KiB  
Article
Blockchain Adoption for a Circular Economy in the Chinese Automotive Industry: Identification of Influencing Factors Using an Integrated TOE-TAM Model
by Jun Chen, Asma-Qamaliah Abdul-Hamid and Suhaiza Zailani
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 10817; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410817 - 10 Dec 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1885
Abstract
Although the potential of the blockchain has been extensively recognized by scholars and practitioners across multiple fields, research on its adoption in the framework of the circular economy (CE) is still scarce. In this context, this study extends the technology acceptance model (TAM) [...] Read more.
Although the potential of the blockchain has been extensively recognized by scholars and practitioners across multiple fields, research on its adoption in the framework of the circular economy (CE) is still scarce. In this context, this study extends the technology acceptance model (TAM) by integrating the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework to holistically understand how technological perception factors (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) interact with organizational and environmental factors in influencing the intention to adopt the blockchain in the CE within the context of the Chinese automotive supply chain. Based on survey data from 305 respondents from Chinese automotive companies, the proposed hybrid TOE-TAM conceptual model was validated. The results indicate that, except for the effects of the knowledge management capability on the perceived ease of use and regulatory support on blockchain adoption intention, all of the other hypotheses are deemed significant. Moreover, by conducting an in-depth analysis of the evolution of blockchain adoption intention in the CE, this study not only deepens the understanding of how the technology is disseminated but also provides valuable insights to theory and practice within the Chinese automotive value chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology for Circular Economy Towards Sustainable Development)
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22 pages, 321 KiB  
Article
Digital Economy and Urban Low-Carbon Transition: Theoretical Model and New Mechanisms
by Kunpeng Ai, Wenjie Zhang and Xiang-Wu Yan
Sustainability 2024, 16(14), 5917; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16145917 - 11 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1781
Abstract
Urban areas are at the forefront of economic activity and notably contribute to carbon emissions. Transforming cities to low-carbon models is imperative for addressing climate change. The digital economy (DE) has emerged as a pivotal force in driving global economic progress, offering unique [...] Read more.
Urban areas are at the forefront of economic activity and notably contribute to carbon emissions. Transforming cities to low-carbon models is imperative for addressing climate change. The digital economy (DE) has emerged as a pivotal force in driving global economic progress, offering unique benefits that support urban low-carbon transitions. Despite extensive research on the correlation between DE and urban low-carbon transformation (ULCT), there remains a gap in studies utilizing mathematical models to delve into the intrinsic mechanisms and deeper impacts. This research evaluates the influence of DE on ULCT by examining data from 283 prefecture-level and above cities in China, spanning from 2011 to 2019, through both theoretical frameworks and empirical testing. The analysis reveals that DE substantially fosters ULCT, a conclusion reinforced by rigorous robustness and endogeneity checks. Notably, DE’s impact on ULCT is more significant in southern cities than in northern ones. Interestingly, while DE in the Yangtze River Delta and Chengdu-Chongqing urban clusters showed limited promotion of ULCT, it had the highest impact in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. DE enhances ULCT through several pathways, including scale economy effect, heightened public environmental awareness effects, and increased income effects, contributing 6.64%, 9.84%, and 16.2%, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of public environmental awareness and income are particularly pronounced in southern regions, unlike in northern areas. This study not only expands the theoretical research on the relationship between the digital economy and urban low-carbon transition but also provides specific guidance and support for related policy formulation and implementation. This helps promote cities toward more environmentally friendly and sustainable development. Furthermore, the conclusions of this study have important reference value for other major polluting countries (such as the US, India, and Germany). Different countries and regions should formulate targeted low-carbon transition strategies based on their own DE development, income levels, and public environmental awareness. This will effectively promote urban low-carbon transitions, achieving a win-win situation for economic development and environmental protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology for Circular Economy Towards Sustainable Development)
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