Sustainable Innovation Strategies in Industrial Production Processes: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This systematic review of the literature arises from the need to promote industrial practices that integrate innovation and sustainability into production processes, key elements for addressing environmental challenges and improving operational efficiency. The objective of this review is to identify and analyze the most commonly used strategies for incorporating sustainable innovation into industrial processes, evaluating their impact on environmental performance, production efficiency, and business competitiveness. A qualitative and descriptive methodology was applied following the PRISMA model, based on 1,234 records obtained from the SCOPUS database up to July 2025, of which 26 studies met the inclusion criteria. During the analysis, key strategies were identified, such as the circular economy, intelligent automation, process redesign, implementation of clean technologies, advanced manufacturing, and industrial digitization. These strategies were applied in various productive sectors such as the food, automotive, textile, energy, and construction industries. It was evident that their application improved process performance, reduced resource consumption, and minimized environmental impact, in addition to promoting compliance with international standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Finally, the results confirm that the correct implementation of sustainable innovation strategies not only optimizes industrial processes but also strengthens organizational competitiveness, provided that favorable conditions exist, such as institutional leadership, investment in technology, an innovative organizational culture, and adequate regulatory frameworks.