Table 3 Overview of literature streams... | Emerald Publishing

Table 3

Overview of literature streams on digitalization and sustainability in supply chains

Literature stream	Focus	Limitation	Reference examples
Technology and sustainability performance	Examines how digital technologies (e.g. AI, blockchain and IoT) enhance sustainability performance through efficiency, emissions reduction and waste minimization	Assumes a direct link between technology adoption and sustainability performance, often neglecting the role of sustainability practices as mediators	Queiroz et al. (2022), Hastig and Sodhi (2020) and De Vass et al. (2021)
Technology and sustainability-oriented practices	Explores how digital tools enable sustainability practices by enhancing transparency, data-driven decision-making and supply chain collaboration	Does not assess whether technology-enabled practices lead to measurable sustainability outcomes, focusing mainly on technological capabilities	Saberi et al. (2019), Khan et al. (2022) and Benzidia et al. (2021)
Sustainability-oriented practices and performance	Analyzes the impact of sustainability practices such as circular economy initiatives, ethical sourcing and supplier engagement on environmental and social performance	Overlooks the role of digitalization in supporting, scaling, or enforcing sustainability practices, often assuming that sustainability initiatives are independent of digital tools	Farooque et al. (2022), Croom et al. (2018) and Wiredu et al. (2024)

Literature stream	Focus	Limitation	Reference examples
Technology and sustainability performance	Examines how digital technologies (e.g. AI, blockchain and IoT) enhance sustainability performance through efficiency, emissions reduction and waste minimization	Assumes a direct link between technology adoption and sustainability performance, often neglecting the role of sustainability practices as mediators	Queiroz et al. (2022), Hastig and Sodhi (2020) and De Vass et al. (2021)
Technology and sustainability-oriented practices	Explores how digital tools enable sustainability practices by enhancing transparency, data-driven decision-making and supply chain collaboration	Does not assess whether technology-enabled practices lead to measurable sustainability outcomes, focusing mainly on technological capabilities	Saberi et al. (2019), Khan et al. (2022) and Benzidia et al. (2021)
Sustainability-oriented practices and performance	Analyzes the impact of sustainability practices such as circular economy initiatives, ethical sourcing and supplier engagement on environmental and social performance	Overlooks the role of digitalization in supporting, scaling, or enforcing sustainability practices, often assuming that sustainability initiatives are independent of digital tools	Farooque et al. (2022), Croom et al. (2018) and Wiredu et al. (2024)

Source(s): Authors’ elaboration