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The recent economic, social, and environmental developments are compelling industries and businesses to transition from a linear model to a circular one, based on the so-called 3Rs. The concept of a circular economy is capturing increasing interest from academics and policymakers, particularly in the food industry. Agri-food supply chains typically face complex challenges in achieving sustainable development, and solutions are needed to make the entire food chain more sustainable, improving agricultural production, food processing, packaging, distribution, and consumption. Despite the presence of several literature reviews on the subject, recent studies primarily concentrate on identifying specific drivers or barriers in the implementation of the circular economy within the food supply chain. The aim of this study, on the other hand, is to identify the prevailing research areas related to the topic to understand the key subjects of research focus. This facilitates future research on the most relevant topics. To achieve this, we conducted a bibliometric analysis and keyword research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a literature review on the topic of digitalization in the healthcare supply chain. The healthcare industry is currently undergoing a transformation, and the supply chain is not an exception. The adoption of advanced technologies such as the blockchain is increasingly prevalent, offering improved traceability, security, trust, and privacy. However, managing the influx of new data requires highly qualified personnel. The potential benefits of digitalization are thus explored, as well as the need for collaborations to improve the present and future of the healthcare supply chain. The authors analyze the current state of digitalization in the healthcare supply chain by conducting a literature review of 81 relevant documents. The outcomes of the analyses highlight the challenges and opportunities associated with digitalization, which has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare supply chain. However, it is apparent that further studies are necessary to ensure the success of digitalization in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of Industry 4.0 and the circular economy has gained significant attention to achieve sustainable and innovative practices in the manufacturing industry. This paper presents a conceptual framework for integrating Industry 4.0 and the circular economy, based on a systematic literature review. The review synthesizes and critically analyzes existing research to identify key elements of a circular and sustainable production system and demonstrates how Industry 4.0 technologies can be leveraged to support these elements. The framework encompasses four essential components: Desired Environmental Performance, Circular Economy Strategies, Technology Enablers, and Organizational Factors. These components provide guidance for manufacturing firms in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies to promote circular economy principles and achieve environmental sustainability. The findings of this study contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between Industry 4.0 and the circular economy, paving the way for future research and practical implementation in the manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing environmental concerns have prompted a worldwide emphasis on the implementation of novel or revitalised technologies that allow manufacturing companies to produce in an environmentally sustainable way while reducing resource, global warning, and waste generation. Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies play a pivotal and revolutionary role in this particular industrial landscape. These new technologies are increasingly permeating industrial realities as they offer numerous advantages not only from an economic standpoint but also incorporate several potential sustainability benefits (e.g., reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions, minimized waste production, lightweight product manufacturing through technological optimization, the possibility of using biodegradable and recycled materials, shorter supply chains through localized production, and reduced environmental impact). This study proposes a literature review on the topic of sustainable AM, focusing on the three aspects of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social). In particular, the analysis has revealed that AM positively influences the economic aspect of companies, as it allows for the reduction of processing waste, effectively transforming this into positive monetary value. Another relevant aspect is that these technologies enable the decentralization of manufacturing sites, meaning that production can be moved closer to the customer, thus reducing or eliminating transportation-related costs. While AM offers positive opportunities in these first two aspects, there is still limited research exploring its impact on social sustainability. Although AM has yet to radically transform industrial systems, there are early signs indicating that the characteristics of this advanced production process will lead to advancements in industrial sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has emerged as a highly innovative response to market needs, particularly in logistics. This paper presents a structured case study on the implementation of I4.0 technologies for material flow and handling management. The study explores the contextual framework, historical development, and key characteristics of I4.0, focuses on the necessary characteristics for I4.0 certification and outlines the specific features exhibited by the company under study. Objectives include enhanced traceability of metallic materials and optimization of crane management. The paper outlines the project phases, highlighting the positive impact on lead time reduction and providing insights into operational procedures. This research contributes to understanding I4.0 practices in logistics and offers valuable insights for future implementations, driving enhanced efficiency and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain emerged as a leading technology layer for financial applications. Nevertheless, in the past years, the attention of researchers and practitioners moved to the application of the blockchain technologies in other domains. Supply chain is the topic playing more attention to the blockchain. In line with this consideration, this paper focuses on case studies of blockchain implementation targeting the supply chain context. Through a systematic literature review, we derived a list of 107 papers retrieved from the Scopus database and published in the main academic reference journals. Using these studies, this paper tracks and analyses the evolution of the research field based on publication year and journals, most prominent countries and authors and keywords' analysis. The results provide a clear picture of the existing literature to identify the research gap of the current scientific research and to propose a future research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Startups are agile entities capable of fostering innovation and swiftly navigating turbulent market conditions. Against the backdrop of global challenges, particularly environmental and social issues, startups have gained prominence as potential agents of positive change. Recognizing their value, stakeholders, including large corporations, universities, and governments, actively seek collaboration and support for startup growth. This network of actors, or entrepreneurial ecosystem, exerts different types of pressure on startups. In particular, although efficiency, speed, and reliability are emphasized for economic success, there is an increasing emphasis on environmental and social sustainability within entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study explores the dynamics of entrepreneurial ecosystems and their impact on startup performance, specifically focusing on the dual pressures exerted on startups. The study delves into the potential conflict or synergy between these pressures, aiming to answer the research question regarding the impact of entrepreneurial ecosystem pressures on both economic and environmental/social sustainability. Through a survey conducted among Italian startups, the research reveals that these pressures do not compromise either economic or sustainability objectives. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of entrepreneurship, highlighting the interconnectedness between entrepreneurial ecosystems and individual company performance. Moreover, the study advances the sustainability literature by demonstrating that sustainability-oriented ecosystems can coexist with economic growth objectives, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs, universities, public administration, and large companies. • The business ecosystem exerts pressure on startups. • The ecosystem's pressure impacts startups' behavior. • This pressure affects both the efficiency and sustainability of startups. • Sustainability goals can coexist with economic growth objectives within business ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]