Environmental impact Assessment in the panela production process through the Life Cycle Analysis

The panela activity is dispersed in all the country in production units and the linkage productive of the agroindustry from the cultivation of sugar cane, process and commercialization are affected by unfriendly and inefficient productions. The aim of the research was to analyze the environmental impact of panela production by using the Life Cycle Analysis in the different phases of the product's life as an alternative for identifying and solving environmental problems and as a technologically sustainable experience for the development of the panela sector. The cultivation and process are evaluated through the input and output of materials and negative environmental effects according to the categories of impact in health areas, ecosystem and global warming by using the environmental modeling of the SimaPro7 software and as impact methodology the eco-indicator 99. Incorporate sustainable technological improvements, good agricultural and manufacturing practices, with the intervention of the government, the industry and the university, are viable options to mitigate the impacts caused by this agrobusiness.