Turning grape and olive industry byproducts into sustainable construction materials: From insulation to cementitious, ceramic and pavement applications

The present work aims to demonstrate how residues generated from the wine and olive oil industries can be effectively valorized within the civil construction sector, contributing to circular economy strategies and environmental sustainability. Given the significant volumes of agroindustrial waste produced annually, particularly in Mediterranean countries, these byproducts represent a promising alternative source of raw materials for building applications. This study provides a comprehensive state of the art review of grape and olive derived residues, including pomace, stalks, pruning, stones, ashes, biochar and wastewater derived fractions, assessing their physicochemical characteristics and performance when incorporated into insulation materials, bricks, cementitious composites, geopolymeric systems and pavement applications. The analysis of the literature demonstrates that these residues can enhance specific properties such as thermal insulation, density reduction and in certain formulations mechanical strength, while simultaneously reducing reliance on virgin raw materials and lowering the carbon footprint of construction materials. However, performance strongly depends on residue type, treatment method, incorporation rate and matrix compatibility. Key challenges remain related to variability of biomass feedstocks, long term durability, moisture sensitivity, dimensional stability and industrial scale validation. Overall, the findings confirm that the valorization of wine and olive industry residues represents a technically feasible and environmentally relevant pathway toward more sustainable construction systems. Future research should focus on formulation optimization, durability assessment, life cycle analysis and large scale implementation strategies to consolidate the transition from laboratory scale experimentation to practical industrial applications.