An Evaluation Framework of Industry 4.0’s Impact on SDGs and its Application to AI Reporting

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34190/ecmlg.20.1.2991

Keywords:

Industry 4.0,, Artificial Intelligence,, GRI Sustainability Reporting;, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);, content analysis

Abstract

Digital technologies of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) are key drivers of sustainable development. However, addressing the impact of I4.0 on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires overcoming the challenge of lacking suitable assessment tools. Despite sustainability reporting serves to assess how companies face sustainability challenges, communicate efforts, and promote a sustainable corporate culture, a critical need arises for a comprehensive tool that clarifies the impact of I4.0 technologies on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that builds on existing literature regarding how I4.0 technologies contribute to SDGs and leverages the recognized linking between SDGs and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards to improve the reporting of SDG progress. Thus, the proposed framework identifies the GRI-based Key Performance Indicators necessary for a thorough understanding of how innovation stemming from I4.0, significantly impacts SDGs. Through a content analysis of sustainability reports of innovative companies in the electronic field, the study shows how the proposed framework can be applied in practice. Focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the application case allows a comprehensive understanding of the transformative potential of AI solutions towards sustainable development.

Author Biographies

Tamara Menichini, University of Rome Niccolò Cusano

Tamara Menichini, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Business and Management Engineering at the University of Rome “Niccolò Cusano”.  She received her Ph.D. in Economic and Management Engineering from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. She is co-author of different papers published on international refereed journals and proceedings of international conferences. Her research interests and areas of expertise mainly regard: Corporate Sustainability (CS), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement, Gender Equality, Eco-innovation, Circular economy, Fuzzy Multi Criteria Decision Making Methods (MCDM), Content Analysis.

Nicoletta Maria Strollo, University of Rome Niccolò Cusano

Nicoletta Maria Strollo is a PhD student in Industrial Innovation Engineering in the Business and Management Engineering context at the University of Rome “Niccolò Cusano”, Italy. Her research focuses on Circular Economy, Industry 4.0, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Reporting, Sustainability Reporting, ESG Reporting, and Sustainable Development.

Downloads

Published

2024-11-13

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 1 (2024): Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance

Section

Academic Papers