Is blockchain able to enhance environmental sustainability? A systematic review and research agenda from the perspective of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract

Blockchain is a disruptive technology that is revolutionizing information technology and represents a change of cultural paradigm for the way in which information is shared. Companies are rushing to understand how they can use blockchain distributed ledger technology to innovate processes, products and transactions. In a globalized world where environmental sustainability is a critical success factor, what is the role of the blockchain? By using a systematic review approach and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, this study attempts to identify whether and how blockchain technology is considered able to affect environmental sustainability. Findings from 195 studies from 2015 to 2020 were analysed after the search protocol was applied. The results indicate that blockchain technology could contribute to environmentally sustainable development goals (SDGs) from different points of view, such as supporting the realization of a sustainable supply chain, improving energy efficiency and promoting the creation of secure and reliable smart cities. Furthermore, the investigation highlights the sectors where to focus research investments, providing a way to reward sustainable behaviour and increasing environmental sustainability. On the other hand, blockchain has no negligible negative effects on the environment that need to be considered before adoption.

Coupling of cryptocurrency trading with the sustainable environmental goals: Is it on the cards?

“…We obtained 1,071 papers in this category. Even after including transparency‐, governance‐, blockchain‐, cryptocurrency‐ and sustainability‐related keywords, we found consistent results with the literature (de Villiers et al, 2021; Parmentola et al, 2021).…”

“…The results show a radical growth in related publications from 2019, and this finding is quite similar to the study that relates to blockchain technology‐based research (Parmentola et al, 2021).…”

“…The analysis of literature shows a radical shift in the attention of researchers and trend towards focusing on the integration of cryptocurrencies and SDG 7 and SDG 13 in the literature during the years 2019–2021 (see Figure 6). Specifically, the analysis reveals the outstanding growth in 2020, with 362 papers, and the first 5 months of 2021 with 178 papers, which is consistent with literature (Parmentola et al, 2021; Pizzi et al, 2020). It is evident from the literature that there is an ongoing debate about the link between cryptocurrency trading and sustainability.…”

“…The following figure shows which countries are mainly highlighted in the literature and which other countries need more attention to draw a road map of possibilities to establish the relationship between cryptocurrency and SDGs as proposed in the paper (Bebbington & Unerman, 2018). The following analysis also supports the need for country‐specific research requested in the recent literature (Parmentola et al, 2021).…”

“…The Scopus search also helps to minimise the possibility of omission of relevant results and eliminate any bias (Pizzi et al, 2020). For cross‐validation of the suitability of the Scopus database, we follow the literature and check the EBSCO Business Premier and Web of Science databases (di Vaio et al, 2020; Parmentola et al, 2021; Pizzi et al, 2020).…”