The charcoal trade and its transition to the bioeconomy in Mexico

Abstract

Global charcoal consumption has increased between 3 and 4% annually in recent years. Its use in Mexico is a socio-cultural factor, so its consumption could reach up to 700 thousand tons each year, with a growth perspective of 360 thousand tons by 2030, which would imply having more than two million cubic meters. of wood for this purpose. In general, there is no standardized process for the production of charcoal for a homogeneous quality, its elaboration is carried out in a traditional way with different forest species and in rudimentary earth ovens, with techniques that do not provide high yields. In addition, its commercialization is full of opacities that limit the quantification of the true volumes that are commercialized. Thus, the processing and marketing of charcoal could constitute a threat to the future of timber resources. Given this problem, the objective of the text is to present the problematic situation that is observed around the coal trade in Mexico and exposes the need for research that allows moving in the circular economy through sustainable management, through high energy conversion (more coal with less wood), exprofeso plantations and the efficient use of waste for energy purposes, with technological strategies that mitigate negative environmental impacts.