Autor: Grischa Beier

A considerable part of global greenhouse gas emissions is caused in the industrial sector. Its digitialization is often seen as a means to increase sustainability. At the same time, ecological and social risks emerge. Their exploration is still in its infancy, however, previous findings point out multiple challenges. These must be conceptually taken into account in order to realize a sustainable industry 4.0. Building on a literature analysis, the following contribution presents current developments in research, industry, and policy. We shed light on a number of selected approaches, which aim at a sustainable industry 4.0. Finally, practical design options are outlined.

The impact of digitization on the economy cannot be seen detached from the debate on sustainable development. Corporate Sustainability Management (CSM) offers particular potential for approaching sustainable development and Industry 4.0 from a company perspective. However, supporting digitized sustainability management in companies with information requires a consistent and seamless flow of information, which can be achieved with the help of methods of knowledge representation. Current challenges and approaches for the development of an open and conceptional CSM model are presented in this article.