Sustainable Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Food Processing By-Products: Strategies and Circular Economy Insights

Food waste isn't just trash—it's a treasure trove of bioactive compounds waiting to be unlocked. A new study maps the science of turning byproducts into valuable extracts, with a twist of circular economy.

Despite progress, challenges like scalability, equipment costs, solvent recovery, and process standardization remain. Yet, the green extraction of bioactive compounds from food byproducts shows promise and could support the 2030 Agenda's goals for sustainability.

Key Points

• 176 documents analyzed (2015–2025)
• UAE and NADES are top extraction methods
• Targets phenolics, flavonoids; applications in nutraceuticals