The Future Implications and Impact of Sustainable Production in the Digital Age

Dear Colleagues,

What is sustainable production? Production that does not place a burden on the environment, society or the economy that expects current generations to meet their needs without compromising the needs of future generations. This includes clean processes that conserve energy, use limited natural resources so they are not exhausted, do not pollute, and eliminate waste at all stages of a product lifecycle. They are processes that respect human rights, are ethical, and address equity, diversity and inclusiveness (EDI); have a long functional life; and are economically viable. Furthermore, the carbon-neutral manufacturing, use, and recycling of a product is also emerging as an expectation that the global community has and needs for a better planet. In short, sustainable production allows the manufacturer to produce products that promote conservation and allow society to understand and bear the full cost of product ownership with environmental and social externalities factored in. With sustainable production, organizations are able to align themselves with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG#12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), which “strives to implement throughout the whole world, in order to achieve sustainable consumption and production patterns by 2030.” In particular, the UN targets aim to reduce electronic waste, increase energy efficiency, adopt renewable energy, reduce ”material footprint” and address the issue of subsidies for fossil fuels.

As manufacturers face the challenge of producing sustainably, large- and small-scale production areas have seen remarkable advances in technology. Digital technologies are allowing for ever-increasing improvements in production effectiveness and efficiency through information feedbacks throughout product lifecycle processes, from design to retirement. For example, the digitization of products allows organizations to check on the status of the product while it is in use, and to suggest corrective actions when necessary. Digital technologies also enhance the consumer experience when the product is in their hands.

Digital has also brought production and services closer, as it is increasingly common to hear of a product as a service; in essence, ownership is giving way to rentership. These include heavy equipment; cloud computing that allows companies to focus on core competencies; on-demand scooters, bikes and cars that provide ready access for urban dwellers to simple forms of transit; or apps streaming media, books, films, and music with no requirements to own in order to enjoy. Even dinner is being provided in a box with all ingredients readied to prepare.

In this Special Issue of Sustainability, we are looking for papers that review or introduce the theory and practice of where organizations have been able to pursue sustainable production by adopting current and emerging digital technologies in their processes and products. This Special Issue will have the following main sections: strategy, organization, and processes change under the influence of digital transformation. Some of the questions we are interested in answering include, but are not restricted to:

• What challenges have producers found in pursuing sustainable production?
• How and who are the stakeholders involved in the sustainable production journey?
• Are there sectors for whom sustainable production is more achievable than for others?
• What is the role of the institutional context for sustainable production?
• Is the market ready to pay for sustainable production?
• What is the cost of sustainable production?
• What are the advances in technology (like AI) that help sustainable production?
• What is the impact of sustainable production on social aspects of business and lifestyle?
• What theories can explain the organizational pursuit of sustainable production?
• What are the key organizational changes that are necessary to achieve sustainable production?

Relevance and advancement of existing literature: During the pandemic, the need to survive led to advances in digital technologies at a very rapid pace. Research leading to the rapid development of technologies and their rapid adoption by consumers has yet to be fully explored and understood. This relates not only to the practice but also to how organizations had to change and adjust to the new reality where social interactions were limited. While we are studying the past, it is a good time to learn from it and reflect on what the future will bring, especially as other crises may come. This Special Issue of Sustainability will look into the future and examine the impact of technologies that are emerging for the betterment of a sustainable world. New organization structures, driven by technology (e.g., dispersed work force), new business models, new frameworks and re-configured supply chains are all seen as essential for the future of business.

Dr. Anshuman Khare
Dr. Eduardo Ordonez-Ponce
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• sustainable development
• clean production
• energy efficiency
• digital technologies
• digitization
• responsible consumption
• responsible manufacturing
• sustainable production
• carbon neutral
• zero emission