Sustainable industries through digital supply chains?

Digitalisation has transformed the way we communicate and collaborate with friends, family, and colleagues. In a similar vein, digitalisation in industry – the so-called industry 4.0 – is expected to transform the way firms and their suppliers collaborate in global supply chains. Considering that 25 percent of global emissions in 2021 were generated by industry (IEA): Can industry 4.0 play a role in greening industrial supply chains? Researchers at the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam explored the opportunities and risks of digital supply chains for environmental sustainability. In short: sustainability does not simply occur as a by-product of digitalization. Firms should aim to increase sustainability levels in their supply chain – whether through digital or non-digital means.