Himanshu Tiwari

Sustainable innovations driven by advanced digital technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) provide key opportunities for enhancing the efficiency of the digital circular economy. These technologies enable resource optimization, waste reduction, and the implementation of closed-loop supply chains, contributing to sustainability and economic growth by improving the management of product and material life cycles. Below is a detailed description of the specific contributions of each technology:

By combining these digital technologies, companies can create sustainable business models that use resources more efficiently, reduce negative ecological impacts, and enable the full integration of closed-loop supply chains. Digital platforms that integrate blockchain, AI, and IoT can facilitate the creation of advanced systems for recycling, material exchange, and supply chain optimization in line with the principles of the circular economy. These technologies not only reduce waste and resource losses but also enable better predictability and flexibility in business operations, creating competitive advantages in the market while contributing to global sustainable development goals.

First, we need to understand what sustainability is.

Emerging digital technologies like blockchain, AI, and IoT enhance circular economy in different ways. For instance, integrating Blockchain can ensuring transparency and traceability within supply chains, especially when considering technologies like digital product passports. AI would be adopted to enhance resource efficiency or to predict waste, while IoT support monitoring real-time data flows, recycling, and tracking assets for reuse. Integrating these technologies into closed-loop systems would boost the sustainability performance of the different supply chains. In the case of agricultural supply chains, I would like to invite you to read our research on designing agricultural supply chains to be more circular to enhance their sustainability. I hope it will be of your interest.

1. Integrating Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Citrus Supply Chains: DOI: 10.17185/duepublico/82607

2. Enhancing Economic-Social Sustainability through a Closed-Loop Citrus Supply Chain: A Life Cycle Cost Analysis. DOI: 10.1016/j.rcradv.2023.200199

3. Optimizing a Closed-Loop Agricultural Supply Chain: A Case Study from Jordan. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-63793-3_11

4. A system dynamics model to improving sustainable performance of the citrus farmers in Jordan Valley. DOI: 10.1016/j.clpl.2023.100034

5. A Multi-Objective Model to Find the Sustainable Location for Citrus Hub. DOI: 10.3390/su142114463

6. A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment: Polystyrene or Polypropylene Packaging Crates to Reduce Citrus Loss and Waste in Transportation? DOI: 10.3390/su141912644

Sustainable innovations powered by emerging digital technologies—such as IoT, AI, and blockchain—can significantly enhance the efficiency of a digital circular economy by optimizing resource flows, enabling real-time tracking, and supporting predictive maintenance and product lifecycle management. These technologies increase transparency and traceability, reduce waste, and facilitate smarter reuse and recycling systems (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2022; UNEP, 2023).