Shaping Circularity in the Food Industry: Strategic Pillars Enabled by Biorefinery Systems

Food systems are currently challenged by a difficult balance: they rely heavily on natural resources while simultaneously generating significant volumes of waste, all under increasing pressure to decarbonize operations and close material loops. In this context, this study proposes strategic pillars for circular practices in the food industry, with an emphasis on the transformation of waste and by-products into high value-added resources through bio-based processes supported by biorefineries, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To underpin this proposal, a PRISMA-guided content analysis of the literature published between 2019 and 2024 (Scopus) identified 30 recurrent CE elements. These elements were systematized into five strategic pillars: valorization of residues and by-products; digitalization of the food supply chain; sustainable education and stakeholder engagement; strategic partnerships for circular business; and regenerative practices based on renewable resources. Together, these pillars point to practical pathways, including the reuse of residues to produce functional ingredients and nutraceuticals, the creation of innovative, sustainable packaging, the generation of renewable energy from biomass, the strengthening of local supply networks, and the use of digital technologies to enhance traceability and transparency. By integrating and organizing fragmented evidence, the proposed framework delivers effective guidance to food industry actors, helping overcome economic and operational barriers to circular practices while supporting collaboration with local partners and research institutions. In doing so, it additionally contributes to advancing key SDGs, particularly SDGs 2, 7, 9, 12, 13, and 17.