Enabling Circularity in Manufacturing through Digital Innovation: a Review of Technologies and Applications

The integration of digital technologies into industrial systems offers new pathways for embedding sustainability and circular economy principles into business practices. Circular manufacturing focuses on resource efficiency, closed-loop systems, and environmental regeneration - goals that align closely with the capabilities of Industry 4.0 solutions. This study investigates how digital tools facilitate this transformation by enhancing planning, monitoring, coordination, and resource optimization across production networks. Through a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published in English and indexed in Scopus since 2015, this paper identifies key technologies - including big data analytics, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and blockchain - that are instrumental in implementing circular strategies within manufacturing. Employing quantitative text analysis, the research uncovers dominant themes, use cases, and technological priorities. The findings highlight the role of digital solutions in improving transparency in supply chains, optimizing resource use, and fostering collaboration between stakeholders - all of which are essential for circular business model adoption. The insights provided can support strategic decisions in digital transformation, particularly for companies facing budgetary and environmental constraints.