Proposta de um framework conceitual teórico para a implementação de uma economia circular na indústria química por meio da indústria 4.0

Abstract

Circular Economy and Industry 4.0 have been gaining the attention from industry, government and society in recent years, for the reason that the relation and opportunities between these two concepts are still little explored in the scientific literature. At the same time, the Chemical Industry has, in its processes and products, an enormous potential to cause environmental impacts and technological need. Thus, this research aimed to propose a theoretical conceptual framework outlining the implementation of a Circular Economy in the Chemical Industry using Industry 4.0 as a tool, in order to achieve the key characteristics of a Sustainable Chemistry and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. The methodology used to build the theoretical reference was based on the RBS Roadmap. The obtained bibliographic portfolio showed that many benefits and strategies are potentially exploitable and achievable from the integration of Circular Economy with Industry 4.0, since, generally, the existing articles and research focus on a specific company or process and can hardly be generalized for all an industrial sector. As a result, the conceptual framework presents opportunities for implementing Circular Economy practices in the Chemical Industry, using Industry 4.0 technologies as a tool and validates its application in two industries. Within this context, this study intends to contribute to the academy and society with discussions and proposals, helping to identify and review concepts of the cited terms, instigating the development of new works in this area, and to the Chemical Industry itself, entering in a new era, relying on the emerging technologies of I4.0 and the fundamentals of sustainability to become a Circular Chemical Industry.