The digital circular economy represents the convergence of sustainability principles and advanced technologies to enable transparent, efficient, and resource-optimized production systems. Blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly recognized as key enablers of this transition. IoT provides real-time data across product lifecycles, enabling monitoring, predictive maintenance, and reverse logistics. Blockchain ensures data integrity, provenance, and verifiable sustainability claims across fragmented supply chains, while AI transforms complex datasets into actionable strategies for eco-design, remanufacturing, and resource optimization. Together, these technologies facilitate the implementation of product-level traceability mechanisms, such as the Digital Product Passport mandated in the European Union, and create integrated infrastructures for sustainable manufacturing. Despite challenges related to interoperability, governance, and organizational adoption, the integration of digital tools is decisive in accelerating the shift from linear to circular economic models. The literature consistently highlights digitalization not only as a facilitator but also as a prerequisite for scaling circular economy practices globally.
Eduardo Silva (Sun,) studied this question.