Systemic sustainability effects of contemporary digitalization: A scoping review and research agenda (original) (raw)

The Digitalization Sustainability Matrix: A Participatory Research Tool for Investigating Digitainability

Sustainability, 2020

Rapidly increasing applications of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (D&AI) are already impacting our day-to-day life substantially, along with social and economic prospects worldwide. The accelerating utilization of D&AI has stirred the discussion concerning the responsible application of technologies for assisting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). D&AI can raise productivity, lower costs, reduce resource intensity, and enable efficient public services. However, there are also risks and downsides that we all must identify and tackle to address any potential short-/long-term undesired impact. Notably, there exists a gap in knowledge about the mutual relationships between D&AI and the 17 SDGs. To address this gap and gather broader perspectives of experts on the potential uses and pitfalls of D&AI for SDGs and their respective indicators, we propose a participatory research approach: the Digitalization–Sustainability Matrix (DSM). The DSM serves...

Sustainability Concept in the Digital Age: New Opportunities for Companies

SHS Web of Conferences, 2021

Sustainability and digitalization are two of the most powerful phenomena of recent times. The phenomena of digitalization and sustainable development are each separately massively explored, but their intersection is subject only to a few of undertaken researches. The paper aims to expand existing sustainability research by incorporating the current digital environment. In particular, the paper explores the relationship between sustainability and digitalization and maps the potential of digitalization benefits for sustainability issue of companies on the base of conducted literature review and content analysis of published researches in this field. As the results shown, digitalization brings new opportunities and challenges in the management of organizations, as well as the fulfilment of their sustainability strategy. It is time to rethink the concept of sustainability and update it in the light of the development of digitalization. Digitalization is becoming an essential part of bus...

A green digitalized economy? Challenges and opportunities for sustainability

2020

Digitalization is creating new patterns of production and consumption and bringing sweeping changes across the economy. The increasing use of information and com-munication technology (ICT) has stirred hopes that this will create new opportunities for economic development and lead to more environmentally friendly production methods. The social and environmental impacts of this digital transformation are only beginning to be understood, and little reliable data on its environmental effects exists. However, some initial trends are already discernible. It remains unclear whether the digital transformation of the economy can be reconciled with the goals of sustainable development. This will depend to a large degree on how the digital transformation is shaped at the national and international levels.

The Economic Aspect of Digital Sustainability: A Systematic Review

Sustainability, 2021

In recent years, sustainability and Industry 4.0 have become crucial aspects of the global economy. Numerous studies focus on the link between environmental aspects of sustainability and Industry 4.0. On the contrary, few studies address the issue of the integration of economic sustainability and digital technologies. This paper aims to fill this gap through a systematic analysis of the literature. In particular, 32 articles were selected and following a descriptive analysis to evaluate the evolution of the theme, a content analysis was performed. The findings of this study highlight and categorize the main sustainability metrics associated with digital technologies. Specifically, the digitalization process enhances the connection of products and factories, the value chain and users to achieve a production cycle as sustainable as possible. The new technologies developed allow companies to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, increase the market share, reduce energy waste, recover...

The Digital Revolution and Sustainable Development: Opportunities and Challenges. Report prepared by the World in 2050 initiative

2019

The Digital Revolution, including technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, additive manufacturing or 3D-printing, (general purpose) artificial intelligence, or the Internet of Things, has entered the public discourse in many countries. Looking back, it is almost impossible to believe that digitalization is barely featured in the 2030 Agenda or the Paris Agreement. It is increasingly clear that digital changes, we refer to them as the Digital Revolution, are becoming a key driving force in societal transformation. The transformation towards sustainability for all must be harmonized with the threats, opportunities and dynamics of the Digital Revolution, the goals of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. At the same time, the digital transformation will radically alter all dimensions of global societies and economies and will therefore change the interpretation of the sustainability paradigm itself. Digitalization is not only an 'instrument' to resolve sustainabil...

Hidden and Latent Factors’ Influence on Digital Technology Sustainability Development

Mathematics, 2021

The modern world can be described as a sociotechnical system, the existence and development of which are determined by the successful interaction of technology and society. When introducing a technology, it is important to assess its potential sustainability. There are currently more than a hundred different sustainability assessment methods that allow for the sustainability of a technology to be predicted on the basis of a quantitative assessment of basic impact indicators. However, as the complexity of technology increases, there are hidden and latent factors inherent in technology that sooner or later affect the sustainability of technology and pose significant risks. Identifying these factors is particularly important for digital technologies, as they are the backbone of any other current technology. The aim of this article is to identify and explain the impact of a set of hidden and latent factors on the sustainability of digital technologies by using a system dynamics simulati...