Abstract
Currently, concerns with sustainable development lead organizations to improve their production processes in order to reduce greenhouse gases emission and energy consumption. Since the bioethanol supply chain is a CO2 emitter and depends on several energy sources, it becomes important to analyze how to improve this chain regarding environmental issues. Thus, this paper presents a comparative study of scenarios with bioethanol supply chain configurations which use different modal alternatives and renewable energy in all its mid-stages. The analysis was based on LCA (life cycle analysis) concepts and in a partial application of LCI (life cycle inventory), so that we can identify which of these scenarios is most appropriate in terms of lower total energy consumption, greater share of renewable energy use and lower CO2 emissions. Based on concepts found in the bibliographic research, the methodology used and the data collected from documental research, this paper analyzes the supply chain that begins with sugarcane plantation and bioethanol production in the south central region of Brazil with destination to export. Based on the results, we concluded that it is possible to improve the performance of the supply chain in environmental terms with a combination of renewable energy sources and modes of transport that are more suitable to the product studied.
Highlights
Brazil is a major producer of bioethanol in the world (UNICA, 2011)
We concluded that it is possible to improve the environmental performance of the bioethanol supply chain with a combination of renewable energy sources and the selection of modes of transport considered more suitable to this product
This paper aims to compare different settings of bioethanol supply chains which are composed of modal alternatives and renewable energy sources
Summary
Brazil is a major producer of bioethanol in the world (UNICA, 2011). This country has been using this renewable biofuel in transport since the 1970s. Compared to the life cycle of Brazilian gasoline, the bioethanol supply chain and its final use consume 36% more energy It uses 93% of renewable energy which reduces CO2 net emissions and can be considered an advantage of the use of bioethanol (D’Agosto; Ribeiro, 2009). Making the bioethanol supply chain even less dependent on non-renewable fuels is a challenge that can bring economic advantage and competitiveness to Brazil as an exporter of bioethanol It involves the identification and selection of alternatives to transferring and distributing the product considering a greater use of renewable energy or modes of transport that are more energy efficient. It was possible to identify which alternative offers lower total energy consumption, larger renewable energy usage and lower CO2 emission From this introduction on, this paper is divided into four sections.
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