An integrated approach to the optimal design of sustainably efficient biorefinery supply chains

Abstract

The agribusiness sector needs to strategically align its activities with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Biorefineries offer a solution for regions rich in natural resources, allowing them to utilize available biomass and progressively reduce dependence on fossil fuels. To ensure the sustainable design and management of biorefinery supply chains, key decisions need to be carefully assessed, taking into account economic, environmental and social impacts. This study proposes a purpose-driven strategy for the multi-criteria design of sustainable biorefinery supply chains, combining a multi-scenario MILP optimization approach with an efficiency (and super-efficiency) ranking using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to address economic, environmental, and social trade-offs. The capabilities of the approach are demonstrated through a real case study in Argentina, using sugarcane and lemon derivatives as feedstocks for bioproducts such as ethanol, citric acid, methanol and lactic acid. The results show the production of bioethanol from sugarcane juice, together with the production of other bioproducts from sugarcane bagasse, as the optimal and sustainably efficient scenario.