Circular Economy Model Enhanced by Intelligent Assets from Industry 4.0: The Proposition of an Innovative Tool to Analyze Case Studies

The nexus of poverty energy in China's industrial productive efficiency and energy transition in digital economy

This research explores the relationship between energy poverty, industrial efficiency, and the energy transition within China's digital economy from 2010 to 2022, spanning 30 provinces. Addressing the significant issue of energy poverty, where many lack access to affordable and reliable energy, the study seeks to understand its impact on industrial productivity and the broader imperative of energy transition in the face of rapid digitalization in China. Using panel data analysis, the research examines how energy poverty affects industrial production efficiency and evaluates its influence on China's ability to shift to cleaner energy sources within the digital economic framework. Findings highlight a complex interplay between energy poverty, industrial efficiency, and energy transition. It is revealed that energy poverty significantly impedes industrial productivity, with notable differences across provinces. Furthermore, the study finds a positive link between industrial efficiency and the speed of energy transition, indicating that enhancing industrial efficiency can aid in a smoother shift to cleaner energy sources. The digital economy is identified as a crucial factor in this process, providing innovative solutions to reduce energy poverty, improve productive efficiency, and accelerate the energy transition. The study emphasizes the importance of integrated strategies to tackle energy poverty, enhance industrial efficiency, and support the energy transition, particularly through the utilization of digital economy tools.

Investigating Accounting Factors through Audited Financial Statements in Businesses toward a Circular Economy: Why a Sustainable Profit through Qualified Staff and Investment in Technology?

This study examines the investigation of accounting factors through audited financial statements in businesses by analyzing the qualified staff and investment in technology for sustainable profit. Therefore, the main goal is to analyze whether qualified staff and investment in technology affect the sustainability of profit in businesses through the investigation of accounting factors in the audited financial statements toward a circular economy, more specifically in these financial items: total assets (TASS), and intangible assets (IASS), total liabilities (TLIA), total income (TREV), and net financial income (NFI), based on questions about which financial items businesses should take care of, as well as businesses that do not invest in technologies and skilled staff: does this hinder profit sustainability? Therefore, for this study, data are collected from the financial statements (balance sheet and income statement) of (N = 800) businesses according to their activity (manufacturing businesses = 256, service businesses = 192, and distribution businesses = 353) during the period (2020–2022). The results show that each of the variables and factors had a significant impact on sustainable profit through the circular economy in (N = 800) businesses. However, to have a sustainable profit in business, it is strongly recommended to pay attention to these findings: businesses should (a) be careful with total liabilities, (b) increase the performance of total assets, (c) increase the performance of net financial income, (d) increase the performance of total business income, and (e) increase and develop the skills of workers, as well as improve technology (equipment, machinery, etc.). With implications and limitations, it was difficult to access some of the financial statements; there are only a limited number of variables, so the same models can be analyzed for other businesses, variables, and countries.

Applications of Intelligent Model to Analyze the Green Finance for Environmental Development in the Context of Artificial Intelligence

Green finance can be referred to as financial investments made on sustainable projects and policies that focus on a sustainable economy. The procedures include promoting renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, water sanitation, industrial pollution control, transportation pollution control, reduction of deforestation, and carbon emissions, etc. Mainly, these green finance initiatives are carried out by private and public agents like business organizations, banks, international organizations, government organizations, etc. Green finance provides a financial solution to create a positive impact on society and leads to environmental development. In the age of artificial intelligence, all industries adopt AI technologies. In this research, we see the applications of the intelligent model to examine the green finance for ecological advancement with regard to artificial intelligence. Feasible transportation and energy proficiency and power transmission are two significant fields to be advanced and focused on minimizing the carbon impression in these industries. Renewable sources like solar energies for power generation and electric vehicles are to be researched and developed. This R&D requires a considerable fund supply, thus comes the green finance. Globally, green finance plays a vital role in creating a sustainable environment. In this research, for performing the green finance analysis, financial maximally filtered graph (FMFG) algorithm is implemented in different domains. The proposed algorithm is compared with the neural model and observed that the proposed model has obtained 98.85% of accuracy which is higher than the neural model.

Integration of Digital Economy and Circular Economy: Current Status and Future Directions

Circular economy (CE) is a concept actively advocated by the European Union (EU), China, Japan, and the United Kingdom. At present, CE is considered to grant the most traction for companies to achieve sustainable development. However, CE is still rarely adopted by enterprises. As the backbone of the fourth industrial revolution, the digital economy (DE) is considered to have a disruptive effect. Studies have shown that digital technology has great potential in promoting the development of CE. Especially during the COVID-19 epidemic that has severely negatively affected the global economy, environment, and society, CE and DE are receiving high attention from policy makers, practitioners, and scholars around the world. However, the integration of CE and digital technology is a small and rapidly developing research field that is still in its infancy. Although there is a large amount of research in the fields of CE and DE, respectively, there are few studies that look into integrating these two fields. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the research progress and trends of the integration of CE and DE, and provide an overview for future research. This paper adopts a bibliometric research method, employs the Web of Science database as its literature source, and uses VOSviewer visual software to carry out keyword co-occurrence analysis, which focuses on publication trends, journal sources, keyword visualization, multidisciplinary areas, life cycle stages, and application fields.

Towards a Conceptual Development of Industry 4.0, Servitisation, and Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies have been highlighted in recent literature as enablers of servitisation. Simultaneously, businesses are advised to implement a circular economy (CE) to bring new opportunities. However, it is pertinent to mention that little attention has been given to assess the role of I4.0 in adopting the CE and servitisation in a fully integrated manner. This research fills this gap by developing a conceptual framework through a systematic literature review of 139 studies investigating the relationship between the I4.0, CE, and servitisation. This study identifies the impact of these variables on a firm’s operational and financial performance (revenue stream, growth, and profitability). Our research findings advocate that adopting I4.0 technologies to the business and manufacturing model enables sustainability, energy and resource efficiency while enhancing performance and offering innovative products through smart services. Thus, firms must systematically adopt I4.0 technologies to support a CE model that creates value through servitisation. This study identifies the research gaps that are unexplored for practitioners and future researchers while providing insight into the role of I4.0 in implementing CE in the servitisation business model.

The Role of Digital Technologies in Operationalizing the Circular Economy Transition: A Systematic Literature Review

The enabling role of Digital Technologies towards the Circular Economy transition has been recognized. Nonetheless, to support the transition, the operationalization of the discourse is still needed. The present study performs a systematic literature review, deepening the knowledge on the role of Digital Technologies in operationalizing the Circular Economy transition. The analysis is shaped according to the ReSOLVE framework, as it has been recognized as able to operationally guide industrial firms towards the Circular Economy transition. Despite the broad focus on the topic by the extant literature, the results of the analysis show limited Circular Economy aspects addressed and specific technologies considered, making it difficult to have a complete overview on the implementation of Digital Technologies in the Circular Economy transition, operatively addressing it. Shortcomings are identified regarding the lack of an integrated and holistic analysis of the relationships, the need for investigating the decision-making process and specific Circular Economy practices, all from an empirical perspective. The paper eventually suggests streams for further research while offering theoretical and practical implications.

An Overview of the Transition to a Circular Economy in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy Considering Technological, Legal–Regulatory and Financial Points of View: A Case Study

The circular economy is a growing and strategic topic and has motivated changes and innovations in several segments of research, businesses, financial sectors and public administration. In this context, the Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) is considered a pioneer in Italy, due to the efforts taken for the transition towards a circular economy. It was the first Italian region to launch a specific law on the subject besides to have relevant projects. Thus, the objective of this paper is to analyse the efforts aimed at the transition to a circular economy in the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy, considering technological, legal–regulatory, and financial points of view under a market orientation. Complementary, we pointed out the main initiatives related to the circular economy and the areas of interest. To gather data, we conducted applied, descriptive and qualitative research. The data collection was based on documental analysis, and also considering the results of previous questionnaires and interviews. In addition, we applied a dedicated questionnaire and we consider the outcomes of the project Reinwaste—Remanufacture the food supply chain by testing Innovative solutions for zero inorganic waste. The unit of analysis was the project conducted by ART-ER, entitled “Accelerare la transizione verso l’economia circolare in Emilia-Romagna: Uno studio sullo stato dell’arte, le competenze e i bisogni tecnologici e finanziari”. This paper can be useful for researchers and practitioners acting in this field, which can use the results based on public and private policies, investment decisions and further studies.