While tons of grape pomace are discarded in Brazilian wineries, researchers are transforming grape residues into bricks and adobe that reduce waste, improve thermal insulation, and pave the way for large-scale sustainable construction.

Written by Flavia Marinho

Published on 30/05/2026 at 15:17

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Wineries transform grape waste into bricks and adobe, creating sustainable walls, improving thermal insulation and reducing environmental impacts, with application in modern and ecological civil construction

The grape pomace left over from wine production is gaining a new function. Researchers are incorporating skins, seeds, and processing residues into bricks and adobe, offering a sustainable alternative for the construction sector.

This utilization transforms bulky waste into materials that can improve the thermal insulation of walls, reduce the weight of constructions, and decrease the environmental impact of wineries. The volume of pomace generated is significant in wine-producing regions, making reuse highly relevant.

The pomace is rich in fibers and organic compounds, and can affect the density, strength, and thermal properties of bricks and adobe, requiring careful testing before application in constructions. The information was disclosed by MDPI, an international scientific publisher that publishes peer-reviewed research.

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What remains after the grape becomes wine

After the extraction of the must and fermentation, a solid mixture formed by skins, seeds, and parts of the pomace remains. This residue represents a large part of the grape’s weight and is traditionally discarded or used as fertilizer.

The grape pomace is rich in fibers and organic compounds, and can affect the density, strength, and thermal properties of bricks

The utilization of pomace in construction offers a way to value what was once industrial waste, transforming agricultural residues into a useful resource for building walls, fences, and lightweight structures. MDPI, an international scientific publisher, detailed the key points of the topic.

How the pomace enters adobe

Adobe is a building material made of clay, sand, and water, molded and air-dried. Research incorporates different percentages of raw grape pomace into the mixture, ranging from small amounts to five percent of the total weight.

The presence of bagasse reduces the density of adobe and improves the thermal insulation capacity, making the walls more efficient in maintaining a pleasant internal temperature without the use of additional energy. Laboratory tests show that the balance between the amount of bagasse and structural strength is crucial.

Difference between fired brick and raw adobe

In addition to adobe, bagasse can be used in fired ceramic bricks, which undergo high temperatures in kilns. Mixed with clay, the grape residue alters the structure, producing lighter and more porous bricks, with better thermal insulation, without losing mechanical strength.

Raw adobe, on the other hand, is not fired and consumes less energy in production, being suitable for internal walls or constructions that do not require a large structural load. Both applications utilize agricultural residues and contribute to more sustainable constructions.

Why sugars and organic matter require technical care

Bagasse contains sugars and organic compounds that can interfere with the cohesion of the material and how it dries. Inadequate amounts can compromise the strength and durability of bricks or adobe.

Research indicates that moderate percentages of bagasse allow for benefits in thermal insulation without compromising wall stability. This balance is essential to ensure that the construction is safe and durable, while also reducing waste and wastefulness.

The reuse of grape bagasse represents an opportunity for circular economy, promoting energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact in wine regions.

What do you think: would it be feasible to adopt walls with grape bagasse in your daily constructions? Share your opinion in the comments.

While tons of grape pomace are discarded in Brazilian wineries, researchers are transforming grape residues into bricks and adobe that reduce waste, improve thermal insulation, and pave the way for large-scale sustainable construction.

Wineries transform grape waste into bricks and adobe, creating sustainable walls, improving thermal insulation and reducing environmental impacts, with application in modern and ecological civil construction

What remains after the grape becomes wine

How the pomace enters adobe

Difference between fired brick and raw adobe

Why sugars and organic matter require technical care

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While tons of grape pomace are discarded in Brazilian wineries, researchers are transforming grape residues into bricks and adobe that reduce waste, improve thermal insulation, and pave the way for large-scale sustainable construction.

Wineries transform grape waste into bricks and adobe, creating sustainable walls, improving thermal insulation and reducing environmental impacts, with application in modern and ecological civil construction

What remains after the grape becomes wine

How the pomace enters adobe

Difference between fired brick and raw adobe

Why sugars and organic matter require technical care

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Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has ceased to be a climatic phenomenon and has become a biological system that feeds on itself, with 8,000 kilometers in length, 37 million tons of algae, and scientists confirm that it is now permanent.

A British company has installed in the middle of the ocean the world’s first floating platform that generates electricity 24 hours a day from the temperature difference between the surface and the depths of the Atlantic, without relying on wind or sun.

China is building an artificial island in the middle of the sea, covering 20 km², to construct the largest offshore airport in the world, the Dalian Jinzhouwan. This $4.3 billion project is anchored on more than 3,000 pillars embedded in the rock beneath the ocean and is scheduled to open in 2035.

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