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Industry 4.0 (I4.0) became an important paradigm to bridge the gap between technologies and humans. The paper aims to diagnose sustainability performance and I4.0 maturity in Poland’s printing and packaging sector and identify research areas where further actions for improvements are necessary. This article adopts a mixed-method study combining in-depth interviews of eleven heterogeneous enterprises, supported with a quantitative survey on a representative sample of 301 companies. The findings revealed an insignificant correlation from a statistical point of view (0.44) between the adopted I4.0 technologies currently used and sustainable best practices. Internet of Things technologies are more often adopted in the printing industry (27.2 %) than in the packaging industry (14 %). The study concludes that using I4.0 technologies boosts the execution of sustainable practices and/or realising sustainable development practices requires I4.0 technology adoption. The paper clarifies that more in-depth analyses are needed to help achieve sustainable objectives for printing and packaging companies through digital technologies. The methodology is replicable and might be applied in other economies across separate multinational enterprises to influence sustainable digitalised business strategy.

Due to the beginning of the Fourth Industrial Revolution based mainly on intelligent technologies used in the production area, rational assessment of their functioning has become the subject of interest of many scientists. The main aim of the article is to present the method of intelligent technologies assessment and to determine the possibilities of its adaptation by manufacturing companies. The following methods and research approaches were used in the construction of the method: integrated method, controlling, desk research, observation of the functioning of intelligent technologies, questionnaire interview. The research procedure assumes the adoption of a three-stage assessment process (measure – module – dimension). The holistic approach adopted in the study is achieved through horizontal aggregation of obtained values of measures and modules. The method was verified for the assessment of an intelligent technological line operating in a large metallurgical company. The substantive analysis of the achieved results allowed to develop a list of recommended activities within modules that have not been assessed positively. It has also become possible to assess the implementation of strategic and operational goals realized through the use of intelligent technological line. The developed final assessment formula will help determine the effectiveness of the activities undertaken (comparative analysis).

Growing concern for Industry 4.0 (I4.0) motivates to examine I4.0 technologies under the lens of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the context of digital technologies. The goal of the paper is to align SDGs with selected I4.0 technologies to conceptualize a digital business model for printing and packaging companies. In this perspective, a comprehensive literature review, quantitative survey and qualitative individual in‐depth interviews were conducted as a research approach. Findings revealed that printing and packaging companies achieved SDGs (8, 9 and 12) mostly through their value proposition by supporting I4.0 components (cybersecurity, system integration, cloud computing, big data and Internet of things [IoT]). The business model affirms a digital‐oriented transition towards sustainability, fostering further development of I4.0. It also highlights the importance of redesigning traditional business models to embrace digitalization. Despite the study limitations, the business model can be adapted to other companies of various sectors, improving their 'profit centres'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]