Multinational enterprises, Industry 4.0 and sustainability: A multidisciplinary review and research agenda

Abstract

Humanity is facing important challenges in the area of sustainability, for which all parties and means need to be brought together. Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are considered key actors for helping realise a successful transition towards a greener and more equitable future, in a time and age where much hope is set on novel digital technologies (often termed Industry 4.0) to expedite change ‘for good’. Despite this attention, however, there is limited insight into the actual state of the art regarding MNEs, Industry 4.0 and the implications for sustainability. As a result, academic knowledge of how MNEs develop and employ digital technologies, and what significance this has in relation to sustainability, is fragmented along disciplinary boundaries. We therefore conduct a systemic multidisciplinary review of the literature, examining the different types of digital technologies, the geographical scope of the studies, and the sustainability dimensions covered. Based on this critical evaluation, which considers both (potential) positive and negative implications, we present a promising research agenda for scholars on themes that are also highly relevant for organizations, individuals, societies and the planet.