Wine waste valorisation: crushing the research domain

In the past few years, the wine industry has shown an increasing interest in sustainability issues. There is growing agreement that circular economy solutions are essential for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Implementing circular economy strategies can enhance the environmental and economic sustainability of wine production processes. In this context, waste valorisation and industrial symbiosis are widely discussed circular economy strategies. However, there is a gap between theory and actual practical implementation. The present paper uncovers the state of the art in the field of research by conducting a systematic literature review on a sample of 67 scientific papers, further including grey literature to obtain a more comprehensive overview of the phenomenon under investigation. The results of this study highlight the urgent need for the industry and the scientific community to investigate sustainable and profitable alternatives for wine waste valorisation. The tight ties between academia and business may support the wine industry in addressing this shift. Finally, this study proposes a research agenda for future studies. This includes sustainable practices for valorising raw materials at their maximum potential and the reduction of waste stream disposal. In order to implement circular strategies, including the recovery and recycling of valuable waste, modern wineries should implement technical, managerial, and valorisation strategies.