Enhancing sustainability and human centricity through emerging technologies from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0: An integrative literature review

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Abstract

In the early 2020s, the European Commission introduced the concept of “Industry 5.0”, expanding upon the framework of Industry 4.0 by emphasizing integrating emerging technologies with sustainable, human-centered industrial processes. This paper explores the shift from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0, emphasizing artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things’ (IoT) role in enhancing sustainability and human well-being. While Industry 4.0 prioritizes automation and hyperconnectivity, Industry 5.0 prioritizes collaboration between humans and intelligent machines, balancing operational efficiency with eco-friendliness, redefining industrial paradigms with a focus on human-centric, sustainable outcomes and hyperconnectivity (Ivanov, 2023). Within this context, our research question is to what extent new technologies influence sustainability and human-machine collaboration in the transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0. To answer this question, we developed an integrative literature review (ILR) and bibliometric analysis to study the contribution of key technologies to environmental and social sustainability. The findings reveal how businesses adopting Industry 5.0 principles, centered on human-centric innovation and resilience, can lead the charge toward adaptable and sustainable industrial ecosystems. Industry 5.0 brings change that addresses critical environmental issues on a large scale (Ghobakhloo, Iranmanesh, Foroughi, et al., 2023). This research underscores the importance of aligning production methods with environmental and societal goals, offering a strategic roadmap for creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and human-focused industrial future.

Keywords: Sustainability, Human Centricity, Emerging Technologies, Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0

Authors’ individual contribution: Conceptualization — H.T.-B.; Methodology — H.T.-B., J.E.T., and R.C.G.L.; Software — J.E.T.; Validation — H.T.-B., J.E.T., and R.C.G.L.; Formal Analysis — H.T.-B., J.E.T., and R.C.G.L.; Investigation — H.T.-B., J.E.T., and R.C.G.L.; Resources — H.T.-B., J.E.T., and R.C.G.L.; Data Curation — H.T.-B., J.E.T., and R.C.G.L.; Writing — H.T.-B., J.E.T., and R.C.G.L.; Visualization — H.T.-B., J.E.T., and R.C.G.L.; Supervision — J.E.T.; Project Administration — J.E.T.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: D78, J24, M11, O14, O33

Received: 27.01.2025
Revised: 28.04.2025; 17.06.2025
Accepted: 14.07.2025
Published online: 16.07.2025

How to cite this paper: Thompson-Bahm, H., Teixeira, J. E., & Lobo, R. C. G. (2025). Enhancing sustainability and human centricity through emerging technologies from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0: An integrative literature review. Corporate Governance and Sustainability Review, 9(3), 90–104. https://doi.org/10.22495/cgsrv9i3p7