From Bin to Benefit: Sustainable Valorization of Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Byproducts Towards the Circular Economy

This study aims to communicate updated information on the recent innovations in grapefruit byproduct valorization.

Grapefruit is an important fruit of the citrus genus which has commercial importance and its processing generates waste in bulk, mainly in the form of peels, seeds, and pomace, which only leads to a strenuous waste stream that ends up in landfills causing environmental issues if overlooked. However, grapefruit byproducts are rich in high-value compounds including dietary fiber, polyphenols, pectin, and essential oil, which therefore could be valorized for different applications in the food sector and other realms as well. In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, the valorization of these byproducts in the most efficient and environment-friendly manner is of great importance for the future.

The valorization of grapefruit byproducts can be addressed through environmentally friendly extraction procedures that allow recovery of target high-value compounds and open new vistas for their applications. Overall, this work describes an updated tapestry of reports about the characteristics and compositions of grapefruit byproducts. In parallel, it offers an updated vision of high-value compounds and the various extraction techniques used for their extraction have been discussed. Comprehensively, the current review summarizes the latest advancements in the application of high-value compounds from grapefruit waste in the numerous areas of the food, pharma, and cosmetics realm, along with the utilization for development of environmentally sustainable materials, fostering a sustainable economy.