The carbon footprint of sugar production in Eastern Batangas, Philippines

Creator

Teodoro C. Mendoza, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Rex B. Demafelis, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Anna Elaine D. Matanguihan, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Justine Allen S. Malabuyoc, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Richard V. Magadia, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Amabelle A. Pector, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Klarenz A. Hourani, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Lavinia Marie A. Manaig, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Jovita L. Movillon, University of the Philippines Los Banos

Issue Date

9-2015

Abstract

Sugar production (cane production in the field and sugar processing in the factory) is an intensive energy-requiring process (Corpuz and Aguilar 1992; Mendoza and Samson 2000; Mendoza et al. 2004). All of the operations, processes, and inputs that are used, directly and indirectly, involve burning of a large amount of fossil fuel. Growing and hauling canes to the mill use machines (tractors, trucks) that burn oil. The manufacture and transport of agrochemical inputs (fertilizer, herbicide) also use fossil fuel (natural gas). Certain field practices such as cane burning directly emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHG) (e.g., methane, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide), which have powerful global warming potential (GWP) relative to CO2 (Weier 1998; Mendoza and Samson 2000). Factory operations for converting sugarcane to raw sugar and its co-products consume electricity that is sourced from burning certain fuels, which, in turn, contribute to carbon emission. More so, the construction of the whole factory has equivalent carbon emission. Collectively, when all these GHG are added together, they represent the carbon footprint (CF) of sugar. Does sugar production from sugarcane have a net carbon emission?

Source or Periodical Title

The Carbon Footprint Handbook

Page

451-472

Document Type

Book Chapter

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Mendoza, T.C., Demafelis, R.B., Matanguihan, A.E.D., Malabuyoc, J.A.S., Magadia, R.V., Pector, A.A., Hourani, K.A., Manaig, L.M.A., and Movillon, J.L. (2015). The Carbon Footprint of Sugar Production in Eastern Batangas, Philippines. IN: The Carbon Footprint Handbook ed. Senthilkannan Muthu Subramanian (Boca Raton: CRC Press, 22 Sep 2015 ), accessed 19 Aug 2021, Routledge Handbooks Online.

Digital Copy

yes