Resumen

Environmental performance indicators are essential information for every agri supply chain, particularly the impact that production activities have on the environment. This project addresses the problem of estimating the environmental performance of postharvest logistics operations in the Agrisupply chain of avocado hass in the Tolima ‘ACAHT’. By using the following methodologies as guides: PAS2050 (British Standards Institution , 2008), and “The water footprint assessment manual: setting the global standard” (Hoekstra, Chapagain, Aldaya, & Mekonnen, 2011), the estimations were made for the value of the Carbon Footprint (CF) and the Water Fooprint (WF). To estimate the CF, the amount of GHG in the transport operation during its respective combustion process, and in the packing stage where electricity is used in the selection and classification of the fruit was evaluated. With regards to the WF, the operations that use blue water were assessed. Firstly, during the post-harvest stage where a pre-washing takes place and subsequently in the fruit packing stage of the washing process. The value of the indirect use of water by the operators and administrative workers, as well as the washing of equipment was also determined and assessed. The results obtained in the ACAHT were contrasted with the same indicators reported in different avocado exporting countries. Finally, the potential advantages that Colombia could obtain in this matter compared to its international competitors were explored.