From Vineyard to Value: A Circular Economy Approach to Viticulture Waste

Due to its significant environmental impact, the wine industry is one of the most analyzed agri-food sectors in terms of sustainability. These include waste emission, intensive land use, and high transport-related carbon footprint. The circular economy represents an opportunity to mitigate these impacts by promoting the valorization of wine waste. Through a systematic literature review, this research provides an overview of studies from 2018 to 2024 that deal with the transformation of wine waste, in particular vinification residues, into resources. The research covers the commodity sectors in which wine waste is reused, such as Food, Agriculture, and Energy. The analysis of the sample reveals that the countries in which the issue of valorization of wine waste is most studied are Italy, Spain, and Portugal. The study encourages a better integration of waste in the wine sector into business practices by assessing the environmental and economic impact. From a management point of view, the aim is to inform companies about effective waste management practices in order to promote the development of a more sustainable wine industry. Future research will focus on evaluating the effectiveness of these valorization pathways, also through case studies of good practice in implementing a circular business model.