The fourth industrial revolution taking place in the industrial sector is related to the increasing digitization and linkage of goods, products, value chains and business models. Industry 4.0 is based on the global connection of people, things and machines. By connecting devices and sensors to the internet, we are entering a new era of data analysis, connectivity and automation. This gives great opportunities for innovation and progress, previously unattainable in such a dimension. The term Internet of Things (IoT) has spread along with the vision of a world instrumented with intelligent inputs and outputs able to communicate with each other through internet data and technologies. IoT is being implemented in various areas of the modern economy, for example, healthcare, quality control, logistics, energy, agriculture and production. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) blazes the trail to a better understanding of the manufacturing process, thus enabling efficient and sustainable production. The paper explains the concepts of IoT, IIoT and Industry 4.0. It highlights the accompanying opportunities, threats and challenges related to their implementation. Additionally, it presents an outline of computing architecture in IoT and related energy consumption issues. Moreover, it provides examples of application and IIoT research profiling.

Purpose: The aim of the article is to identify the quality control methods used in companies producing packaging and to obtain knowledge of the scope of the use of optical sensors. Design/methodology/approach: Enterprises located in Poland in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, producing paper, board, corrugated and plastic packaging. The triangulation strategy was used in the study in which Computer Assisted Web Interview (CATI), Individual In-depth Interviews (IDIs), and Case Study were applied. The subject of research was the identification of quality control methods at individual stages of packaging production and the responsibility for carrying it out, as well as the method of presenting the control results. In addition, the use of optical sensors for quality control was assessed. Findings: Digitalization of manufacturing leading to the Industry 4.0 concept provides novel tools for quality control and data storing. It enables real-time data collection and processing for even better even better management of the production process and quality control. However, the concept of Industry 4.0 (including Big Data Analysis, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks) is not new, still many companies find it difficult to implement it and benefit from its capabilities. The surveyed packaging companies are characterized by low use of the possibilities related to the use of more advanced methods of product quality control at individual stages of the production process. The potential for improvement is the area of process and product control through the use of optical sensors/actuators, etc., and the form of keeping records of the product quality checks carried out. Research limitations/implications: The results of this research are not representative, but they encourage the authors to carry out a broader and more in-depth analysis of the research subject on a national scale. Practical implications: Research indicates the need to improve the quality control process in the production of packaging and a wider use of modern solutions with the use of optical sensors. Originality/value: An article can be an element influencing the management to better select quality control methods at various stages of the production process. Keywords: quality control, packaging, control methods, optical sensors, Internet of Things (IoT). Category of the paper: Research paper.

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Climate change and environmental pollution are considered to be among the main challenges faced by the modern world. The growth of environmental awareness and the adoption of a pro-environmental approach are considered to be the key megatrends with the greatest impact on the global economy in the upcoming years. According to Eurobarometer, EU citizens are particularly aware of the importance of protecting the environment. Although the negative environmental impact of European industry has improved over the past decades, EU citizens believe that there is further scope in terms of helping companies transition towards adopting more sustainable models. One of the factors contributing to the reduction in negative environmental impact is the participation of enterprises in voluntary programs such as the Environmental Management System (EMS), according to ISO 14001, or the Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). The whole population of Polish companies registered under the EMAS was included in the study and although the sample size was small, it was a full study, and for that reason allows for the generalisation and conclusion regarding the whole population of EMAS-registered companies in Poland. The results of the study conducted on EMAS-registered organisations in Poland in 2015 suggest that the average effectiveness of the EMAS observed between 2007 and 2014 was 66.4%. The aim of this study was to review the changes in EMAS effectiveness and benefits obtained by participating organisations after five years. The results indicate that the average effectiveness during the period of 2015–2020 increased to 79.1%; nevertheless, registered organisations recognise fewer benefits for participation in the scheme. The study has shown that as EMAS matures in organisations, it becomes more effective. It influences a lot of factors, such as environmental awareness and management commitment, the use of SRDs (including BEMPs), environmental performance indicators for specific sectors, the criteria for the excellence of assessing the level of environmental performance, and the skilful use of indicators in organisations.