Environmental Sustainability in Industrial Operations: A Comprehensive Review

As industrial activities expand, their significant environmental impact calls for the adoption of sustainable practices to mitigate adverse effects on ecosystems and communities. This comprehensive review synthesizes recent literature from recognized databases such as Scopus, SciELO, IEEE Xplore and Latindex, focusing on articles published within the last five years that emphasize the implementation of sustainable strategies in industrial operations. Our findings highlight a range of implemented strategies across various sectors, including advancements in energy efficiency through technology integration and resource optimization. Despite these improvements, challenges such as high resource consumption and waste production persist, underscoring the ongoing conflict between industrial growth and environmental preservation. The review discusses case studies demonstrating both the environmental and economic benefits of sustainable practices, illustrating the potential for industry-wide improvements. Conclusively, while the industrial sector has made notable progress towards sustainability, substantial efforts are required to address inherent challenges such as the high costs of initial investments and general resistance to change. Future research should explore the development and application of innovative technologies tailored to specific industrial needs, aiming to foster a holistic approach to sustainability that integrates economic, social, and environmental aspects.