Industry 4.0, Sustainability and the Circular Economy

Figure 1: Industry 4.0

Credit : Christoph Roser [ CC BY-SA 4.0, Industry 4.0]

This post is as much about tuning readers into a recent discussion about information technology and sustainability as it is about demystifying terms and concepts in which this discussion is embedded.  The subject of this enthusiastic discussion is the anticipation of the next industrial revolution which is popularly dubbed as Industry 4.0.  Figure 1 presents a schematic snapshot of what this means and this Forbes article by Bernard Marr provides a synoptic summary of the concept. Closely linked to this discussion is the concept of what is being called a Circular Economy.  This short article and video by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation beautifully summarizes the concept of circular economy.    

If you are wondering why is all the above relevant to this Blog then I must quickly mention that it is not everyday that Information Technology and Sustainability cross paths in the way that is happening with Industry 4.0. In fact the buzz is so high that just a few days ago (23rd August 2019),  The Hindu published an interview with Mr. Li Yong, Director-General of the  United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on how Industry 4.0 will make the planet more sustainable.  

Mikkel Stein Knudsen and Jari Kaivo-oja from the Finland Futures Research Institute, University of Tukru, present a more expansive and rounded discussion on this subject for those who want to explore this interface in more detail.

While talk has already started about Industry 5.0 , some people are not so enamoured by industry buzzwords and seeing this progression as unsustainable, interpret Industry 5.0 differently (Figure 2 - Click to enlarge). They too might have a point — after all industrialization and sustainability have not exactly been simpatico thus far ! 

Figure 2: Industry 5.0

Credit: Letmeseenow and ChristophRoser, based on File:Industry 4.0.png [CC BY-SA 4.0 ]

What do you think ?

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