Sustainability in the tobacco supply chain through low-carbon flue curing processes

This study addresses the goal of greening the tobacco supply chain, presenting a joint technical, economic and environmental feasibility study to reduce the impact of the high-energy intensive tobacco flue-curing phase, aimed at drying the tobacco leaves. Starting from a review of the process, presenting its standard 1-week cycle, the curing barn features and the required physical conditions to obtain top quality flue-cured tobacco, this study investigates the impact of non-fossil fuels feeding the heat generators, e.g. pellets, woodchips. The feasibility study input data are from Italian producers, located in the Umbria region selling tobacco to an international leading company that joined the present research. Results highlight that the switch to non-fossil fuels for tobacco curing may lead to annual cost savings up to 13% and to global environmental saving up to 95% without any product quality decrease.