IoT-Driven Pathways Toward Corporate Sustainability in Industry 4.0 Ecosystems: A Systematic Review
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: The growing pressure on industrial organizations to align digital transformation with sustainability objectives has intensified the need to systematically understand the role of emerging digital technologies in sustainable industrial development. The accelerated digitalization of industrial ecosystems has positioned the Internet of Things (IoT) as a critical enabler of corporate sustainability within Industry 4.0. However, evidence on how IoT contributes to environmental, social, and economic performance remains fragmented. This study conducts a systematic literature review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines to consolidate the scientific advances linking IoT with sustainable corporate management. The search covered 2009–2025 and included publications indexed in Scopus, EBSCO Essential, and MDPI, identifying 65 empirical and conceptual studies that met the inclusion criteria. Bibliometric analyses—such as keyword co-occurrence mapping and temporal heatmaps—were performed using VOSviewer v. 2023 to detect dominant research clusters and emerging thematic trajectories. Results reveal four domains in which IoT significantly influences sustainability: (1) resource-efficient operations enabled by real-time sensing and predictive analytics; (2) energy optimization and green digital transformation initiatives; (3) circular-economy practices supported by data-driven decision-making; and (4) the integration of IoT with Green Human Resource Management to strengthen environmentally responsible organizational cultures. Despite these advances, gaps persist related to Latin American contexts, theoretical integration, and longitudinal assessment. This study proposes a conceptual model illustrating how IoT-enabled technologies enhance corporate sustainability and offers strategic insights for aligning Industry 4.0 transformations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 7, 9, and 12.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su18021052
Language: English
Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W7124946364