A Systematic Literature Review of Digital Supply Chains and Logistics 4.0 for Sustainability and Circular Economy

This study presents a systematic review of the role of key technologies in advancing sustainable logistics and supply chain management. Specifically, it explores the integration of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), logistics 4.0, and digital supply chains, focusing on technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), big data analytics (BDA), blockchain, cloud computing (CC), industrial internet of things (IIoT), machine learning (ML), robotics, virtual reality (VR), and internet of things (IoT). The aim is to examine how these technologies contribute to green logistics (GL), green supply chain management, sustainability, and the circular economy (CE). Data were collected from the Scopus database, covering studies published between 2019 and 2024. A total of 1471 publications were initially identified, and 39 studies met the selection criteria. The PRISMA approach was employed for the systematic review, revealing that leading research on I4.0 is concentrated in top-tier journals, with a significant number of publications from Italy focusing on digitalization in the agriculture and food sectors. Systematic literature reviews and resource-based theory are predominant, yet there is a notable gap in aligning research with the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper provides insights into technological adoption trends and offers recommendations for industry leaders seeking to enhance sustainability, eco-friendliness, and alignment with the SDGs within their supply chains.