Vinèa is an interdisciplinary sustainability project developed in the historic wine-growing region of Brotnjo, Herzegovina. Rooted in over two millennia of viticultural tradition, our project addresses a contemporary environmental and economic challenge: the underutilization of vineyard waste, particularly grape pomace (komina), seeds, and vine prunings. We designed a circular solution that transforms this organic waste into three high-value outputs. First, we extracted antioxidant-rich grape seed oil used in the formulation of natural cosmetic products such as shampoo and bath solutions. Second, dried grape seeds were processed into nutrient-rich flour, contributing to zero-waste food innovation. Third, we engineered an eco-friendly bio-pellet composed of 80% grape pomace and 20% vine prunings, achieving an energy density comparable to traditional wood pellets. Beyond product creation, our project highlights the carbon and hydrogen potential stored in biomass, conceptually linking vineyard waste to clean energy transitions. Through research, experimentation, collaboration with local producers, and prototype development, we demonstrated that agricultural residue can become a sustainable economic and environmental asset. Vinèa integrates heritage, science, entrepreneurship, and climate responsibility into one scalable circular solution.
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