Adoption of cleaner production in a pupunha palm heart factory: a systematic literature review and a case study

Abstract

The pupunha (peach palm) palm heart production in the Vale do Ribeira (southern region of the State of São Paulo-Brazil) brings economic benefits to the region, and environmental risks with the generation of a large amount of waste. The Cleaner Production adoption in the pupunha palm heart factories is a strategy for reducing environmental impacts and generating profit, with consequent rational use of raw material, reuse of waste, and new equipment installation. This research aims to evaluate the Cleaner Production adoption's environmental and economic benefits in the reuse of waste generated in pupunha palm heart processing. The case study was carried out in a factory, using direct observation, interviews, and documentary data. The calculation of ROI was an adequate tool for economic evaluation, and the adoption of gondolas in the stages of material separation and waste treatment provided improvements in the production processes. The Cleaner Production application increased the theoretical knowledge about the treatment and use of the waste, reduced the environmental impact, allowed the development of a new business, and generated economic gains through the creation of employment and increase of income.

Supporting the Bidding Decisions of Smallholder Farmers in Public Calls in Brazil

“…Besides this, other agricultural products and business models should be investigated. For example, the pupunha palm heart, which demonstrated to have the power of creating a new business ecosystem and generation of economic gains [56], contributing to the strengthening of family farming, and local rural development.…”