The high quality of the environment, protection of natural resources, efficient use of natural resources, and elimination of environmental burdens are the main priorities of sustainable development. Therefore, enterprises around the world have to manage the environment wisely, while avoiding negative effects on it. The aim of the paper was to examine the use of green and reverse logistics in the conditions of sustainable development in enterprises in Slovakia. The intention of the paper was to provide a theoretical overview of green and reverse logistics at home and abroad on the basis of the elaboration of a scientific bibliographic-information apparatus. Subsequent practical implementation of the questionnaire research and statistical verification of research results provides a basis for practical recommendations and conclusions for enterprises operating in Slovakia. The research topic of the paper was green and reverse logistics in companies in Slovakia. The research problem was the implementation and use of modern logistics under the influence of the environment. Based on these facts, statistical hypotheses were determined and subsequently tested. Descriptive statistics and inference statistics were used to interpret the research results. Based on the research, we found that the dominant position in green and reverse logistics in Slovakia was achieved by large production enterprises from the automotive industry, which operate in western Slovakia. The analysed enterprises in Slovakia use voluntary tools of environmental policy and the most important environmental tool is corporate social responsibility. Elements of environmental policy are used primarily in the logistics process of warehousing and storage. The biggest barrier in the implementation of elements of environmental logistics analysed by enterprises is the lack of financial resources. The implementation of green logistics and reverse logistics enables the analysed enterprises in Slovakia to improve customer-supplier relations. We can say that despite the government’s efforts, measures to minimize the environmental impact and growing public awareness of environmental issues, environmental problems persist. Initiatives can be seen at the global and national levels of enterprises that make quick decisions and set up new processes in environmental management.

Background: The digital transformation towards Industry 4.0 has become a necessity for businesses as it makes them more flexible, agile and responsive. Logistics is no exception, as it is constantly undergoing a significant transformation supported by revolutionary Industry 4.0 technologies that are fundamentally changing logistics processes and operations. Methods: In the construction of the paper, the following classical scientific methods were used: analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, analogy, specification and comparison. Among the special scientific methods, the method of classification, concretisation, graphical methods, questionnaire survey and statistical methods were used. Results: The analysed enterprises perceive digital transformation in logistics. In the analysed enterprises in Slovakia, the Industry 4.0 strategy is implemented in logistics. Industry 4.0 in logistics has the largest representation in production logistics in each enterprise category. In implementing Industry 4.0 in logistics, enterprises confront the biggest barrier, namely, investment costs. Conclusions: Through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s correlation coefficient, several significant relationships were confirmed. The significant relationship between manufacturing logistics and selected Industry 4.0 technologies was demonstrated. The significant relationship between procurement logistics and selected Industry 4.0 technologies was also demonstrated. The statistical analysis also confirmed a significant relationship between distribution logistics and the selected Industry 4.0 technologies.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the use of modern trends in the logistics of agricultural enterprises in Slovakia in order to achieve a competitive advantage and to ensure the improvement of the course of business activities. The research was carried out in 67 agricultural enterprises on the territory of Slovakia. The following methods of data collection were used: Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing, Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing and Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing. When interpreting the results of research, descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were used. Pearson’s chi-squared test, Pearson’s contingency coefficient and Tschuprow’s coefficient were applied as statistical tests. The result of the analysis is the need for digitisation and transfer of Big Data that will lead to better decisions, resulting in higher operational efficiency, cost reduction, risk reduction, flexibility, efficiency, and clarity of logistic processes. Agricultural enterprises in Slovakia will have to accept Industry 4.0. The results of the research revealed that 71.6% of agricultural enterprises strongly agrees with the usage of logistic technology. Price has a strong influence, as an important factor, on the implementation of a new trend in logistics in case of 80.6% agricultural enterprises. 29.8% of respondents accept logistic trends but do not have the funds to implement them in their enterprise.

Sustainable technologies, including clean energy in manufacturing and green and reverse logistics, generate conditions for industry development and future growth with the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies and innovations in the context of sustainable development goals (SDGs). The objective of the article is to identify and analyse the potential of sustainable technologies in synergy with Industry 4.0 innovations and renewable energy initiatives in manufacturing and logistics in the context of SDGs. Qualitative analysis was performed on 105 enterprises of various business sizes, in several regions of Slovakia, within various industry sectors, and within geographical coverage. Based on the summarised results, we can state that more than 82% of surveyed enterprises implement the SDGs. Currently, more than 70% of enterprises prefer environmental aspects in business management. Based on the results, we find a significant relationship between the environmental management of the enterprise in the context of SDGs and sustainability in production and logistics. Statistical analysis confirmed the relationship between the use of renewable energy technology in the industrial sector. A significant relationship was also demonstrated between sustainability in logistics activities in the industrial sector in waste separation and recycling; environmental certification; environmental training of employees; the use of renewable energy sources and the continuous reduction of CO2 in all logistics activities. The results of the study indicate a significant relationship between green manufacturing, green logistics, reverse logistics and selected Industry 4.0 technologies: autonomous robots, renewable energy, advanced materials, virtual technologies, and simulation. We conclude the significant influence of environmental management on business production and logistics.

The aim of the paper was to evaluate the current situation of Industry 4.0 in logistics in the machinery and equipment industry in Slovakia. The intention of the paper was to fill a research gap in the form of identification and analysis of the studied issue in the selected industry in Slovakia. The identification and analysis of the subject issue were conducted in 57 enterprises in the machinery and equipment industry in Slovakia. The results of the investigated issues were interpreted through descriptive and inferential statistics. The research instrument was a questionnaire, which involved a construction of several types of questions. The results of the testing showed that enterprises with different numbers of employees perceive, implement and use Industry 4.0 technologies in logistics. Also, based on the statistical hypothesis testing, it was confirmed that big data and the Internet of Things are the most used of the Industry 4.0 technologies in the selected logistics processes. The connection between Industry 4.0 and Logistics 4.0 will be an increasingly dominant theme as the Fourth Industrial Revolution represents a change that almost every enterprise in the world is going through or will go through.

No abstract

To survive in a competitive environment, enterprises need to improve their business processes, prosper, make changes and be open to new opportunities. One way to make a business more competitive is to use logistics technologies. By applying and using logistics technologies, the enterprise manages to improve the quality of products, processes and applies a harmonious course of business activities. The main aim of the paper is to introduce selected logistics technologies based on the knowledge base, which consisted of studying domestic and foreign literature and through the survey to find out their application and usage in the Slovak enterprises. In processing and comparing in the theoretical part of the paper, a literature search, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, comparison and scientific abstraction are used. In Results, sorting method, elimination method and graphical method are used. The object of the research, which was carried out by a questionnaire survey, were small, medium-sized and large enterprises operating in the Slovak Republic. From selected logistics technologies, respondents use Just in Time more than Kanban. Their use is mainly in large and medium-sized enterprises of a production nature.

Transport currently has the largest share of air pollution, among all sectors. Increasing air pollution caused by conventional cars brings an opportunity to develop electric cars, which are a green alternative in transport. The main aim of the article was to explain the terms related to electromobility through the literature and then to examine the total cost of electric cars and conventional cars on the example of selected four models. The comparison was made on the example of the best-selling four selected models: electric car, hybrid car, plug-in hybrid car and standard petrol car. The methods were used in the elaboration of the article: analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction and comparison. We used the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) method to process the results. The intention of the article was to point out the lower total cost of ownership for electric cars and to confirm the fact that electric cars are a profitable investment in the future.