Reviewing the current state of knowledge on sustainable production, this paper opens the Special Section entitled “Sustainability in production in the context of Industry 4.0”. The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), which embodies a vision for the future system of manufacturing (production), focuses on how to use contemporary methods (i.e. computerization, robotization, automation, new business models, etc.) to integrate all manufacturing industry systems to achieve sustainability. The idea was introduced in 2011 by the German government to promote automation in manufacturing. This paper shows the state of the art in the application of modern methods in sustainable manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0. The authors review the past and current state of knowledge in this regard and describe the known limitations, directions for further research, and industrial applications of the most promising ideas and technologies.