The relevance of eco-innovation for solid waste in the fruit agri-food

Abstract

This technological report analyzes the results of the eco-innovation process for industrial solid waste (biomass) of mango processing. Among the technical-environmental and economic actions undertaken in the investigated company, the main one was the adaptation of the old boilers for operation via automation with pellet burners, which replaced the fuel in use. The use of vegetable biomass as an alternative source of clean energy brought a solution to the environmental problem of the residue from a by-product that became correctly discarded and became a cost reduction factor due to the burning efficiency of the pellets produced. In addition, economic value was aggregated in the utilization of the ashes of the boiler as fertilizer. It is understood that these actions are incremental eco-innovations with potential of application in other similar agri-foods or companies with equivalent processes. It was also possible to bring theoretical contributions by demonstrating the importance of technology-push and demand-pull strategies for the sector.