Introduction:
Wine production is a major agricultural activity in Romania, yet its resource flows remain underoptimized. In line with Sustainable Development Goal SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and the European Green Deal, this study explores how closed-loop systems can transform winemaking by-products into valuable resources, contributing to a sustainable and resilient agri-food system.
Although the wine sector generates significant amounts of agricultural by-products, including grape seeds, pomace, and stems, many wineries continue to operate in a predominantly linear model, representing a research gap. These by-products are often discarded or minimally used, despite their potential to create economic and environmental value. Although international studies on circular economy in agriculture have gained ground, there is still a lack of context-specific models for closed-loop resource use in the wine industry, especially in Eastern Europe.
This research aims to develop and assess a proposed circular economy model, designed to reduce agricultural waste and enhance sustainability in the Romanian wine sector, based on a case study conducted at a local winery in the west of Romania.
Methods:
A mixed-method research design is adopted, combining field observations and detailed mapping of processes at a local winery, along with semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including technical staff and managers. Additionally, quantitative modeling is used to estimate the technical feasibility and socio-economic potential of valorizing by-products into grape seed oil, distillates, and bio-pellets.
Results:
Preliminary findings indicate that over 2000 tonnes of wine by-products per year could be redirected into circular processing chains. Estimated benefits include the creation of new local income streams and employment opportunities, a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from organic waste, increased energy efficiency through biofuel substitution, and strengthening local economies through increased rural entrepreneurship.
Conclusions:
This study proposes a scalable circular economy model applicable to wineries operating in emerging economies. Although implementation is ongoing, the proposed framework provides a strategic basis for reducing agricultural waste and promoting sustainable production. The model is replicable and closely aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Action, providing policy-relevant insights valuable for planning and innovation in rural sustainability
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, C.A.B. and N.M.-S.; methodology, I.M.B. and T.I.T.; software, C.A.B. and T.M.; validation, I.M.B., T.I.T. and N.M.-S.; formal analysis, O.B. and T.M.; investigation, I.C.J. and M.-A.P.; resources, C.A.B. and N.M.-S.; data curation, O.A.I. and O.B.; writing—original draft preparation, C.A.B. and N.M.-S.; writing—review and editing, I.M.B. and T.I.T.; visualization, I.C.J. and M.-A.P.; supervision, N.M.-S.; project administration, N.M.-S.; funding acquisition, O.A.I. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement
Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement
Most of the data supporting the findings of this study are included within the abstract. Additional data or details of the data processing are available from the corresponding author upon request.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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