The role of behavioural and environmental economics in sustainable manufacturing

Abstract

Sustainable manufacturing is a rapidly growing field that primarily seeks to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing processes. Although the three-lens approach of social, environmental, and economic aspects remain the primary focus in any sustainability study, the domains of behavioral, and environmental economics along with smart data technologies have not been used in a unified approach. Through a review of the state of the art, this paper establishes the individual cases for each one of these domains and underscores the research interest in their combinatorial application and possible complementary efficacy for advancing the development of sustainable manufacturing strategies. A research agenda involving comparative testing and the development of pertinent policies and interventions for sustainable manufacturing is proposed for the integration of behavioral economics and environmental economics, within the context of sustainable manufacturing.