Exploring Sustainable Publishing Practices in the Publishing Industry of Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study in the Context of the Fifth Industrial Revolution

Nafew Sajed Joy and Md. Mahfuzur Rahman

Journal of Developing Societies, 2025, vol. 41, issue 3, 406-436

Abstract: The study explores how the publishing industry in Bangladesh adopts principles from the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) and sustainable publishing practices through the analysis of the 6R principles (Recognize, Reconsider, Realize, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) along with human-machine collaboration and remote work practices. The study used Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory and interviewed 30 publishers chosen specifically for analysis. Results indicate that the respondents demonstrated a lack of understanding of 5IR concepts and sustainability principles and demonstrated insufficient adoption of these approaches. The main obstacles facing this industry stem from insufficient technological capabilities, insufficient professional workers and little sustainable development understanding. Several publishers see the benefits of technological integration combined with remote work but many stick to manual methods thus hindering their advancement. The research highlights an immediate requirement for capacity development initiatives that can strengthen business capabilities to use 5IR technologies as well as sustainable methods. The publishing industry can advance toward innovation and sustainability by promoting awareness, embracing human-machine collaboration, and adopting the 6R principles.

Keywords: Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR); sustainable publishing practices; 6R principle; human-machine collaboration; Bangladesh publishing industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jodeso:v:41:y:2025:i:3:p:406-436

DOI: 10.1177/0169796X251324150

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