Closing the loop: exploring apple pomace as a source of bioactive compounds in the framework of circular economy

Abstract

Apple pomace (AP), the common designation of bio-residues generated during apple processing, holds a vast potential for alternative added-value solutions, particularly by applying new sustainable technologies in the food sector. This review provides an overview of the scientific validation of AP as a suitable source of starting materials for different competitive applications, compatible with circular economy guidelines and contributing to raising awareness about the impact and advantages of reincorporating bio-residues into the supply chain. The losses of the apple production chain, strategies to recover bio-residues, main nutritional and bioactive components, and innovative and eco-friendly technologies used for their extraction and subsequent use are thoroughly characterized. Additionally, a general perspective on the AP's bioavailability compounds will be presented, focusing on the association among nutrients in food and their physiological use.