A socio-economic and multi-criterion decision analysis approach for a holistic sustainability assessment of mango waste-based integrated biorefineries

Abstract

Mango waste valorisation in integrated biorefineries supports circular bioeconomies, sustainable development goals, and climate change mitigation by diverting waste from landfills for value addition. The biorefinery concept potentially supports full valorisation, product diversification, cleaner energy provision, and proper waste management in mango processing facilities. Preferred biorefinery options for commercialisation depend on sustainability attributes (social-economic benefits and acceptance, economic competitiveness, and environmental performance). However, sustainability assessments are often limited to technical and economic feasibility and/or environmental impacts. The study combined the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, Jobs and Economic Development Impact Assessment model, and Multicriteria-Decision Analysis approaches for a holistic sustainability assessment of six simulated commercial integrated mango waste biorefineries (MWBs) co-producing bioproducts, and combined heat and power (CHP). The MWBs are annexed to a dried mango chips processing facility processing 27.8 tonnes/hr of mangoes, generating 5.56 and 6.94 tonnes/hr of peels and seeds, respectively, and 50 tonnes/hr of wastewater. Scenario 1 (S1) produces CHP, S2 co-produces CHP and pectin, S3 includes polyphenols, and S4 produces bioethanol to S2, whereas S5 co-produces polyphenols, pectin, bioethanol, and CHP, and S6 co-produces bioethanol and CHP. Notably, system-wide socio-economic benefits (job creation and value-addition to GDP) increase with the recovery of more bioproducts (pectin and polyphenols). However, selecting sustainable biorefinery pathways depends on preferred sustainability metrics for the stakeholders’ developmental goals instead of the trade-off between environmental and economic benefits. Therefore, the results from this study would inform investment and policy decisions regarding the social benefits and MWB’s acceptance, which complement the economic competitiveness and environmental performance.