Special-Issue Information

With the increasing degradation of the environment and resource constraints, attaining sustainable development has emerged as a critical worldwide priority. Human activities are gradually pushing our planet’s limitations, creating challenges for the global socio-economic landscape. In line with environmental experts ‘ viewpoints, global environmental degradation will adversely impact future decades due to population expansion and changing consumption patterns, more inclined toward sustainable outcomes, an existential imperative. Digital technologies, especially blockchain (Hao & Demir, 2024). and AI, possess significant potential to mitigate this dilemma by dissociating economic expansion from its adverse environmental effects.

In the current fast-paced business environment, it is essential to pursue sustainable development. The possibility of dissociating economic growth from its carbon emissions is a promising strategy for achieving this goal through the utilisation of digital technologies (DT) (Rehman Khan et al., 2022). Therefore, combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technology (BCT) has gained popularity in helping businesses develop strategies to pursue sustainable supply chain performance (Khan et al., 2025). Meanwhile, the prevailing inability of corporations to understand the significant role of emerging technologies has adversely affected the corporate and environmental ecosystem.

Blockchain and AI signify promising advancements in the fields of technology, marketing, human resource management, and economics, and their development will significantly influence sustainability results based on their design and implementation priorities (Khan et al., 2024; Sheikh et al., 2024). Utilising blockchain technology allows supply chains to attain, identifiable, transparent, and accountable operations, which in turn facilitate environmentally conscious sourcing, followed by fair-trade actions (Zhou, 2022). Focusing on supply chain operational flows is a critical area for advancing sustainability, as these sectors have notable input towards carbon emissions and confront issues in inter-organisational coordination, hindering Sustainable outcomes (Nayal et al., 2022). Simultaneously, AI’s sophisticated analytics (Khan, Tahir, et al., 2024) and predictive powers present chances to enhance resource allocation, reduce waste, and support informed decision-making. The visible and significant initiatives implemented in developing these technologies will decide their overall effect on Eco-friendly corporate endeavours (Tseng et al., 2022).

The circular economy (CE) is a crucial concept for sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) since it promotes the reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing of materials to enhance product utilisation and manufacturing efficiency (Acerbi et al., 2022; S. A. R. Khan et al., 2023). The eco-friendly value chains segregate the products and services lifecycles into five phases: design and development, manufacturing, delivery, operation, and end-of-life (Zhang et al., 2024). Information regarding products and services is communicated across stakeholders in pursuit of ensuring the responsible use of resources. Similarly, digitisation is as essential as circular development for manufacturers’ enduring advantages in attaining sustainability. The influx of Industry 4.0 (IDT in Industry 4.0) across value chains, pertains to implementing modern technologies that extend beyond organisational borders, which, by using machine-led intelligence, offer system-wide, efficient, effective, and consistent services (Taddei et al., 2022). Smart technologies facilitate the efficient dissemination of important information across stakeholders, which assists in managing the entire corporate system in a socially responsible manner (Khan et al., 2024).

Ongoing enhancement and innovation are essential due to advancing technologies like IR 4.0, particularly AI and BCT, which directly facilitate green management and ensure sustainable organisational operations, thereby contributing to environmental preservation and societal welfare. Green management provides economic advantages, including cost reductions, improved brand reputation, increased consumer loyalty, and entry into sustainability-oriented industries (Khan et al., 2024). It necessitates the dedication of top management and the engagement of all stakeholders, including employees, consumers, suppliers, and local communities (Hong & Xiao, 2024).

Objective & Scope

Themes for the Special Issue

• A Systematic Literature Review on AI, Blockchain, and Sustainability in Supply Chains.
• AI-Driven Sustainable Business Models: Evidence from Emerging and Developed Markets
• Blockchain and AI for Sustainable Supply Chain Performance: Empirical and Theoretical Perspectives
• Blockchain for Carbon Footprint Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation: An Empirical Approach
• Blockchain for Ethical Consumerism and Sustainable Product Transparency
• Digital Trust and Transparency in Sustainable Supply Chains: Empirical and Theoretical Insights
• Exploring AI and Blockchain in Green Supply Chains: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective
• Green HRM and Digital Technologies: Integrating AI and Blockchain for a Sustainable Workforce
• Green Innovation and Digital Technologies: A Framework for Sustainable Business Growth
• Green Marketing Strategies in the Digital Era: The Role of AI and Blockchain
• How Digital Technologies Influence Sustainable Consumer Behavior: An Exploratory Investigation
• Industry 4.0 Technologies for Environmental Sustainability: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review
• The Circular Economy and Digital Transformation: A Systematic and Empirical Analysis
• The Future of Sustainable Logistics: A Systematic Review and Empirical Case Studies
• The Impact of AI and Blockchain on Consumer Trust in Green Marketing
• The Role of AI in Predicting Consumer Preferences for Eco-Friendly Products

Keywords

Sustainable Supply Chain • Technological Innovation • Climate Change • Green Strategies • Sustainability