Triple Bottom Line

Why Moving Toward a Circular Economy Is Crucial

Why Moving Toward a Circular Economy Is Crucial

The ten R-Strategies of sustainable management
Ralf T. Kreutzer
As environmental challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity intensify, with Earth Overshoot Day highlighting overconsumption, the circular economy emerges as a crucial solution. Legislation at the national and EU level obliges companies to become more sustainable. Simultaneously, the circular economy strengthens economic resilience, promotes innovation and creates competitive advantages. However, the impact on the labor market is controversial, as fewer primary resources and new products are needed. Sustainable corporate management requires a balanced consideration of the triple bottom line: Planet, People, and Profit, treating each as equally important. In contrast to the linear economy, the circular economy follows the ‘cradle to cradle’ principle and integrates the ten R-Strategies of sustainability. These strategies range from refuse (avoidance) and reduce (reduction) to recycling and repurpose (reuse). Companies should identify which strategies can be swiftly ...
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | 2025 | Edition 2 | Pages 68-76
Sustainability Effects of Industry 4.0

Sustainability Effects of Industry 4.0

Ökonomische, ökologische und soziale Aspekte
Marion Steven
Profit is a necessary, but not sufficient condition for long-term business success. Global problems such as climate change, depletion of natural resources and overpopulation, but also local environmental pollution and emphasis on social aspects increase the significance of sustainability for enterprises. Sustainability is already implemented in the guiding principles of all DAX 30 enterprises and accepted as maxim of action by 90 % of Fortune 500 enterprises [1]. Starting from a definition of sustainability, the subsequent contribution discusses sustainability effects of industry 4.0 concerning the economic, ecologic, and social dimension [2].
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 35 | 2019 | Edition 6 | Pages 11-15
Ecological Benefits of Industry 4.0

Ecological Benefits of Industry 4.0

A Qualitative-Empirical and Literature-Based Study
Kai-Ingo Voigt, Marc Rücker, Johannes W. Veile
Industry 4.0 describes the digitization and interconnection of industrial value creation. So far, economic and technological potentials have been considered in particular, while ecological opportunities through industry 4.0 receive less attention. This article examines the ecological potentials of Industry 4.0 in terms of resources, energy consumption, logistics and transport, waste and emissions, from which propositions are derived. The study attempts to better understand of the ecological potentials of Industry 4.0 in order to contribute to more sustainable industrial value creation.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 35 | 2019 | Edition 6 | Pages 24-28