Bioplastics from Winemaking By-products in the Buildings Sector: A Feasibility Study on the Main Opportunities, Barriers and Challenges

Abstract

Plastics from fossil source are third after steel and cement among the most widespread materials used in the buildings sector. Bioplastics are biopolymers that offer a sustainable alternative due to their biodegradability and compostability. The edible first-generation sugary-based feedstocks, having high costs that drive the market price even in presence of a large-scale production of bioplastics, should be partly replaced by 2030 with non-edible second-generation feedstocks based on recyclable organic solid agro-wastes according to “Green Deal” of the European Union. The winemaking wastes used as feedstock for the synthesis of biopolymer building blocks and reinforcing fillers could represent a suitable option to reduce biopolymer costs and increase their competitiveness in plastic market. Although bioplastic can solve more environmental issues, nonetheless the production cycle does not always respect the principles of sustainability overall during biopolymer recovery. The present feasibility study is aimed at taking the state of the art of bioplastics in the buildings industry for promoting winemaking co-products into a circular system. The literature data have been collected, consulted and empirically elaborated to find real and potential opportunities, barriers and challenges of developing wine wastes (e.g. wine shoots, grape pomace and wine lees) in the strategic market segment of bioclimatic architecture.