Moving Towards Sustainability of Sugarcane Value Chain through Bio-Circular-Green Economy
摘要
The Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model has been applied for utilizing residual sugarcane biomass to generate value-added products, viz., ethanol, fertilizer, electricity, and biochar. Sugarcane value chain scenarios incorporating these products were assessed for sustainability using life cycle assessment, cost-benefit analysis, employment generation, and material circularity indicator. Incorporating value-added products into the value chain tends to increase both environmental burdens and total product value while also elevating employment rates, indicating a trade-off between environmental, economic and social outcomes. Furthermore, utilizing sugarcane biomass for value-added products reflects a higher degree of material circularity compared to the conventional value chain thus improving the efficiency of resource utilization. Environmental impacts along the entire value chain were considered in the economic analysis through environmental conservation cost. Despite including this cost, high revenues from value-added products continue to offset the environmental conservation expenses, resulting in benefits across all scenarios. However, to realize a sustainable sugarcane value chain, government support is essential, such as interest-free loans for industry equipment, and knowledge and technical assistance for sustainable farming practices among farmers. Establishing collaboration between government, industry, and farmers is critical for advancing toward a sustainable sugarcane value chain.
Graphical Abstract