ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Sustain.
Sec. Waste Management
From Innovation to Sustainability: Exploring How Digital Transformation and Green Innovation Foster Sustainable Waste Management through Circular Economy Practices
Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Abstract
The intensive rate of urbanization and the increase in environmental pressures have added more weight to the call of sustainable waste management practices. In this context, digital transformation is becoming an important enabler of waste management systems that are eco-friendly. This study examines how determinants of digital transformation affect sustainable waste management practices (SWMP) particularly in respect to the contribution of green innovation (GI) and other organizational factors. A conceptual model was developed by incorporating the frameworks of sustainability and digital transformation and empirically assessed using the survey information collected among organizational stakeholders. The researcher used the quantitative research approach. The data has been collected from the managers working in manufacturing sector. The researcher used final data set of 309 respondents. Empirical data were analyzed by use of SMART-PLS SEM. Findings have shown that identified drivers of digital transformation have a positive impact on SWMP that is substantial, which highlights the importance of technological-based processes in achieving environmental sustainability goals. Even though the concept of green innovation has a salient strategic position in the model, it does not always have a direct effect on SWMP, which suggests that its effects can be mediated by indirect or contextual mechanisms instead of being a direct predictor. These findings offer practical recommendations to the policy makers and organizational leaders who are trying to leverage digital technology in advancing clean and green waste management behaviors.
Summary
Keywords
& Sustainable Waste Management Performance (SWMP), Digital Transformation (DT), Green Innovation (GI), Organizational Circular Economy Practices (OCEP), Vision 2030 Environmental Commitment (EC)
Received
05 November 2025
Accepted
20 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Tanveer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Muhammad Tanveer
Disclaimer
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