Transitioning to Sustainable Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Abstract

In the past, sustainability was the doctrine of economics, which assumes a quality of lifeat the level allowed by the current development of civilisation. A sustainable economy(including industry) should balance economic growth, environmental protection, qualityof life, and human health. It is not only about the natural environment, but also theartificial—i.e., man-made (as in Chicago School’s work on human ecology). The doctrineof sustainable development strives for social justice by using environmental projectsfor higher efficiency. The priority is to set ecological standards for preserving thehomeostasis of the ecosystem.Modern business is becoming more digital and intelligent. Enterprises implement newtechnologies of the fourth industrial revolution in the sustainable environment. SustainableIndustry 4.0 is a new concept for discussion by scientists and business. This concept hasbeen gaining interest among scientists and practitioners in recent years because there isnew information about Industry 4.0. Factories are becoming smarter, more efficient, safer,and more environmentally friendly by linking and integrating production technologiesand devices, information and communication systems, and data and services in networkinfrastructures. New business models with cyber-physical systems (CPSs) are being built,but sustainability must not be forgotten in these models.Transitioning to Sustainable Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure is part of MDPI’s OpenAccess book series, Transitioning to Sustainability, which aims to add to the conversationabout regional and global sustainable development according to the 17 SDGs.