Industry 4.0, Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Goals: Future Research Directions Through Scientometrics and Mini-Review

Baca-Neglia M.; Barreto-Pio C.; Virú-Vásquez P.; Badillo-Rivera E.; Césare-Coral M.F.; Castro-Pantoja J.B.; Sotelo-Méndez A.; Saldivar-Villarroel J.; Arroyo-Paz A.; Cruz-Martinez R.V.; Norabuena Meza E.; Quispe-Ojeda T.C. · Sustainability (Switzerland) (2025) · DOI: 10.3390/su17146468

Resumen

The global pursuit of sustainable development has intensified the need to integrate Circular Economy (CE), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) as mutually reinforcing frameworks. This study explores the scientific evolution and interconnections among these pillars through a dual approach: (i) a scientometric analysis using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix in RStudio (2024.12.1+563), and (ii) a targeted mini-review of high-impact literature. A dataset of 478 Scopus-indexed articles (2016–2024) was analyzed, revealing CE and I4.0 as key technological and strategic enablers of the SDGs—particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Moreover, the results underscore an increasing role of enabling digital technologies—such as IoT, blockchain, and big data—in shaping sustainable production systems. An important insight from this work is the growing relevance of policy frameworks as catalysts for implementing CE and I4.0 strategies, especially within national and international sustainability agendas. However, the low citation frequency of “policy” as a keyword indicates a gap in the literature that merits further exploration. Future research is encouraged to conduct in-depth bibliometric studies focused on sustainability-related policies, including regulations that operationalize CE and I4.0 to support SDG achievement. This study contributes a comprehensive overview of emerging research trends, identifies strategic knowledge gaps, and highlights the need for cohesive governance mechanisms to accelerate the digital–ecological transition.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina; Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería; Universidad Tecnológica del Perú; Universidad Nacional de Cañete; Universidad Nacional del Callao