Identificação das iniciativas de descarbonização no setor sucroalcooleiro no Brasil

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from industrial activities have contributed to the worsening of extreme climate events worldwide. As Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane-based ethanol, this study seeks to understand the main decarbonization initiatives developed by companies in the Brazilian sugar-energy sector. Although ethanol produced from sugarcane is a renewable product with a lower carbon footprint compared to fossil fuels, it still emits 5.3 kgCO₂ for each liter of ethanol produced and 0.816 kgCO₂ for each kWh of energy generated. Thus, a literature review on the topic was conducted with the aim of identifying the stages of the process that contribute to GHG emissions, which made it possible to verify that the agricultural production stage, the burning of bagasse for energy cogeneration, and the fermentation stage for ethanol production are the main contributors to the sector’s emissions. The exploratory and documental review of the sustainability reports of the main companies in the sector enabled the identification of actions undertaken to reduce emissions generated in their processes, mainly investments in precision agriculture which improves process efficiency and reduces emissions at this stage and the adoption of circular economy practices, which allow the use of by-products generated during production, thereby reducing the consumption of carbon-intensive resources such as mineral fertilizers.