Digital Technologies Emerge as Key Drivers of Circular Economy Across Product Lifecycles

A systematic review published in Discover Sustainability maps how digital technologies support circular economy practices across the entire product lifecycle, from design and production through use and end-of-life management. The study, conducted by Riya Kashyap and Gargi Patil according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, drew on the Scopus database and narrowed an initial pool of 280 records down to 36 peer-reviewed journal articles for analysis. The circular economy is an economic model that seeks to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency through the continuous use, reuse and regeneration of materials and products.

While Industry 4.0 technologies have been widely discussed in circular economy research, the authors note that most earlier studies examined individual technologies or specific lifecycle stages in isolation, leaving a gap in understanding of how digital tools support circularity across the full lifecycle. The review focused on seven technologies: the Internet of Things, cloud computing, blockchain, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, digital twins and 3D printing. It traced their roles through the design, production, use and end-of-life phases of the product lifecycle, and also examined how Product-Service Systems support circular economy practices.

The analysis found that the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and big data were the most commonly reported technologies in the literature. In cleaner production, eco-design and reverse logistics, digital technologies increasingly serve as the connective infrastructure of circular operations. The review also connects these technological contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The authors highlight alignment particularly with goals related to industry and innovation, responsible consumption and production, and climate action, positioning digital circular practices within broader sustainability frameworks. As a systematic review, the study synthesizes published peer-reviewed research rather than presenting new experimental data, and its conclusions are bounded by the 36 articles that met its inclusion criteria from the Scopus database. The published version is an open-access review released in early access form, citable with a permanent DOI and subject to final editorial updates before the Version of Record.

That mapping, the authors indicate, addresses the limited understanding that has persisted from studies focused on single technologies or single stages, and offers a consolidated evidence base for future work on digitally enabled circular economy practices.

Subject of Research: A systematic review of digital technologies enabling circular economy practices across product lifecycles

Article Title: The role of digital technologies in advancing circular economy practices and sustainable operations across product lifecycles: a systematic review

Article References: Kashyap, R., & Patil, G. (2026). The role of digital technologies in advancing circular economy practices and sustainable operations across product lifecycles: a systematic review. Discover Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-04585-9

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s43621-026-04585-9

Keywords: circular economy, digital technologies, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, blockchain, digital twins, 3D printing, product lifecycle, sustainability, systematic review, Sustainable Development Goals