Knowns and unknowns: Probing supply chain sustainability in the AI era
Event Title
Green Future Innovation Conference (GFIC 2025)
Year (definitive publication)
2025
Language
English
Country
Portugal
More Information
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Abstract
This study explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing sustainability
across global supply chains (SC), supply chain management (SCM), and sustainable supply
chains (SSC), with a focus on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) dimensions: economic,
environmental, and social. Using a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA
framework, the analysis includes 111 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus, Web of Science, and
ProQuest. Findings show that most research emphasizes AI’s benefits for environmental and
economic outcomes, such as emissions reduction, operational efficiency, and predictive planning,
while largely neglecting its implications for social sustainability. The review identifies key
sectoral applications in agriculture, logistics, urban infrastructure, and apparel, and highlights the
potential of AI, particularly when combined with IoT, blockchain, and big data analytics, to
improve traceability and circularity. However, critical research gaps persist, including
algorithmic opacity, underexplored trade-offs across TBL pillars, limited attention to managerial
authority shifts, and insufficient focus on developing economies. These challenges raise concerns
about fairness, ethical governance, and organizational blind spots. Grounded in the principles of
Industry 5.0 and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the study calls
for more reflexive, ethically informed, and context-sensitive approaches to AI adoption in SSCM.
Acknowledgements
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Keywords
Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM),Artificial Intelligence (AI),Supply Chain (SC),Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),Industry 5.0 (I5.0)
Fields of Science and Technology Classification
- Economics and Business - Social Sciences
- Other Social Sciences - Social Sciences
Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations
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