Vine-pruning wood is one of the most abundant yet underutilized lignocellulosic residues generated by vitiviniculture. Unlike previous reviews focused on individual valorization routes, this review provides a comprehensive and systems-level assessment of vine-pruning wood as a strategic feedstock within the framework of the circular bioeconomy and integrated biorefineries. Its lignocellulosic matrix and bioactive compounds enable multiple valorization pathways, including agronomic applications (composting, mulching, and biochar), recovery of high-value bioactive compounds for oenological, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food applications, and the production of renewable energy carriers, advanced biomaterials, and fibrous products. Particular emphasis is placed on green extraction technologies and cascade biorefinery approaches, highlighting their potential to maximize resource efficiency through the sequential recovery of multiple value streams from a single biomass source. The review also integrates techno-economic assessment, life cycle assessment, and regulatory considerations as key elements for evaluating environmental performance, economic viability, industrial scalability, and industrial implementation. Despite significant progress, major challenges remain regarding technological maturity, process integration, biomass variability, and the deployment of digital and biotechnological tools. Furthermore, the lack of coordinated industrial symbiosis frameworks continues to hinder the transition from isolated valorization routes to fully integrated “zero-waste” systems. This review is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly number 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and with circular bioeconomy policy frameworks by promoting the sustainable and integrated valorization of vine-pruning wood.

This study explores the incorporation of polyester fiber waste (PW) and recycled fine aggregates (RFA) into gypsum-based mortars. To address the issues of fiber dispersion and matrix compatibility, a semi-wet pretreatment solution was proposed for PW. Based on previous work using reference mortars (without RFA) and mortars containing 75% RFA, PW was incorporated at 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight of the gypsum. The combined effects and interaction mechanisms of PW and RFA on the physical and mechanical properties of mortars were investigated. Fresh mortar workability was evaluated using flow table tests, and hardened mortar properties including density, capillary water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength, and adhesion were measured. Meanwhile, SEM was used to observe the surface morphology of the mortars. TGA tests indicate that PW influences the structure of gypsum mortar, further confirming the microstructural analysis. The results demonstrated that the semi-wet pre-treatment significantly improved the uniform distribution of PW within the mortar matrix. Moreover, water molecules coated on the fiber surface promoted the formation of additional gypsum gel around PW, enhancing fiber-matrix compatibility. Notably, the mortar incorporating 1% PW and 75% RFA exhibited approximately 36% higher flexural strength than the REF mortar. The results highlight that the mechanical performance improvement is primarily governed by the synergistic interaction between PW and RFA. This work provides comprehensive experimental data on the synergistic effects of complex fiber and recycled aggregate systems on the physical and mechanical performance of gypsum-based mortars, offering practical insights for the design of sustainable fiber-reinforced gypsum mortars.

The growing demand for cotton textiles has amplified environmental concerns associated with pre-consumer waste, underscoring the need for sustainable recycling pathways. This study reports the extraction of cellulose acetate (CA) from cotton textile residues via acid hydrolysis and evaluates its potential as a reinforcing agent in polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers produced by electrospinning, forcespinning, and wet-spinning. The extraction yielded recycled cellulose acetate (rCA) with a degree of substitution of 2.61 ± 0.17, comparable to commercial CA. Structural analyses confirmed the preservation of acetylated cellulose while indicating a higher hydroxyl content in rCA. Solvent recovery efficiency exceeded 80 % for both acetic acid and water, demonstrating the circular potential of the process. When incorporated into PCL, cellulose derivatives influenced fiber morphology, crystallinity, and mechanical behavior in a spinning method-dependent manner. Electrospun fibers exhibited uniform morphologies (0.90–0.98 µm) and high strength, though cellulose addition decreased toughness. Forcespun fibers showed higher stiffness (modulus > 45 MPa) and enhanced crystalline alignment, while wet- spun filaments achieved elongations above 440 % for neat PCL but lost ductility upon cellulose incorporation. rCA consistently preserved more of PCL’s crystalline structure than CA, moderating the loss of mechanical performance. These results validate the feasibility of converting cotton waste into high-value cellulose acetate and its integration into polymeric fiber systems, contributing to circular economy strategies and enabling the production of tunable materials for potential sustainable textile applications (e.g., filtration devices, biodegradable composite reinforcements for biomedicine, etc.).

Children’s skin is highly sensitive and prone to irritation, allergies, and infections, requiring special consideration in textile selection. Although clothing serves as a protective barrier, it can also pose a risk when dyed with toxic chemical colourants. This study explores the potential of multifunctional natural dyes as safer alternatives for children’s clothing, particularly for those with dermatological conditions. Cotton knitted fabrics were dyed through exhaustion with extracts of madder root (Rubia tinctorum L.), pomegranate peel (Ppe, Punica granatum L.), oxidised logwood (Logox, Haematoxylum campechianum L.), and tannin from quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii Griseb.), both individually and in various combinations with or without potassium aluminium sulphate dodecahydrate (alum). The combination of madder and Ppe demonstrated the most promising multifunctional performance, being classified as a weak disinfectant against S. aureus (3.7 log reduction) and showing the highest antioxidant activity (92.6 ± 2.56% 2,2′ -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical reduction), while maintaining excellent results after washing. Moreover, these natural formulations expanded the achievable colour palette from each dye while maintaining moderate wash fastness. The results highlight the relevance of these findings to textile and fashion designers, offering sustainable tools for creating health conscious, visually appealing garments. This research reinforces the potential of natural dyes and biomordants in developing functional textiles that support children’s wellbeing and environmental responsibility.

As digitalization transforms creative and productive processes, manual textile learning practices are increasingly marginalized within design contexts, often regarded merely as hobbies. This shift has contributed to the erosion of cultural and ancestral memory, as well as to the decline of creativity and manual textile craftsmanship. While digital tools expand opportunities for experimentation, speed, and precision, they also distance designers from the sensory, material, and communal dimensions that have historically sustained textile knowledge. Promoting cultural sustainability in fashion design requires rethinking the relationship between technological innovation and ancestral modes of making. Grounded in theoretical reflection, this study argues for a symbiotic relationship between ancestral craft and digital design, understanding them as complementary epistemologies capable of sustaining creativity and cultural continuity through fashion. Drawing on studies of textile and cultural practices in Northern Portugal, it discusses how digital technologies can function as mediators of tradition rather than as its replacements, enabling new forms of documentation, reinterpretation, and transmission of inherited knowledge. By framing fashion design as a field essential to the continuity of ancestral textile knowledge, the study repositions the digital not as an antagonist to craft but as a potential partner in the preservation and renewal of textile heritage. The study concludes by reflecting on the need to rethink new, hybrid, and culturally sensitive models of design education that recognize both the hand and the algorithm, as well as memory and technology, as coexisting forces in shaping sustainable futures in fashion design.

Elastane-containing textiles represent a challenging post-industrial textile waste stream for mechanical recycling because residual elastomeric filaments may contribute to fibre entanglement, persistent yarn fragments and heterogeneous fibre assemblies. This study screened mechanical recycling routes for a post-industrial textile waste composed of 68 wt% polyester, 29 wt% viscose and 3 wt% elastane, and then assessed industrial reintegration of selected fibre fraction. Among the evaluated configurations in a single laboratory trial, an alternating shredding–carding–shredding–carding (SCSC) sequence with TechSpin CT2 met the predefined visual-opening criterion provided the highest mean fibre length among the SCSC conditions (17.6 mm; SD 4.81 mm) The selected route yielded approximately 68% useable fibrous material. The recovered fibres were incorporated at 47.5 wt% ring-spun yarn with a tenacity of 16.5 cN/tex. Relative to the available virgin-yarn reference, tenacity was approximately 25% lower and mass irregularity and imperfections were higher. The yarn was nevertheless converted into four woven fabric variants under industrial conditions, demonstrating manufacturability within the tested route rather than equivalence to a virgin-fibre system. A screening-level gate-to-gate hotspot assessment of the laboratory fibre recovery stage estimated 4.1–4.3 kg CO2-eq per kg of useable recycled fibre. This estimate is not a full life cycle assessment and is not suitable for direct comparison with virgin fibres. These findings establish a proof of technical reintegration for this specific waste stream, but the absence of independently replicated recycling trials, an elastane free control and an equivalent virgin fabric, limits causal and comparative interpretation.

The transition to a circular economy requires professionals to adopt new strategies and a systemic approach to product development. This shift demands continuous learning and the development of new competencies to understand and apply circular economy principles. In this context, innovative educational approaches that foster engagement and lifelong learning (LLL) are essential. Gamification can support this process by enhancing motivation, creativity, problem-solving, and knowledge retention, while interactive tools help learners critically examine and operationalise circular economy principles. This article discusses the design and application of the “Circularity Deck of Cards,” a learning resource developed as part of a European-funded project Be@t, to facilitate the circular design of products and services. The study follows a mixed-methodological approach encompassing three phases: a systematic mapping of international tools and methodological approaches; the conceptual and visual development of the resource; and its implementation and evalua tion through a workshop involving undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students and researchers in fashion design and textile engineering in Portugal. The data were collected using a questionnaire that combined quantitative and qualitative questions, designed to assess the receptiveness to, challenges of, and opportunities arising from gamification in the teaching of circular design. The findings indicate that participants responded positively to the tool, recognising its value as both a pedagogical resource and a professional instrument for promoting sustainability and circularity in the textile and clothing industry. Ultimately, gamification catalyses training students, designers, and industry professionals to address the challenges of circularity, fostering new perspectives on circular design in professional practice.

A new approach for textile wastewater remediation via adsorption with electrospun nanofibers is presented in this work. Chitosan (Ch) and poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) were electrospun to obtain a nanocomposite, and different deposition methods of the polymers were tested in order to optimize their mechanical and adsorptive properties. A layered structure showed higher capacities for dye adsorption compared to the monolayer structures, achieving full decolorizations with efficiencies over 98%, for a wide range of concentrations and temperatures. The developed fibrous structures were characterized via ATR-FTIR, SEM, TGA and measurements of the wettability, porosity and mechanical performance. Experimental data best fit to the pseudo-second order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm, with the maximum adsorption capacities found to be 69.5 mg/g at 25 °C. Desorption was possible using alkali media, recovering up to 25% of the dye. Sorbents could be used for at least 3 cycles without loss on the removal efficiency, which shows the potential of these new nanocomposites as reusable, versatile and stable eco-friendly adsorbents.

Hernias are one of the most common pathologies, with over 20 million surgeries performed annually worldwide. The most commonly used surgery to treat this pathology involves the implantation of fibrous mesh structures to reinforce weakened abdominal tissue. Although commercially available synthetic and biological meshes have significantly reduced recurrence rates, they are still associated with postoperative complications, such as chronic inflammation, foreign body response, and intra-abdominal adhesions. This review focuses on the use of advanced manufacturing techniques, specifically extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing and electrospinning, in the development of next-generation mesh structures for hernia repair. These techniques offer precise control over structural architecture, customizable mechanical properties, and the ability to integrate bioactive compounds for patient-specific implant design. Furthermore, the combination of extrusion-based 3D printing and electrospinning presents a synergistic approach, utilizing 3D printing for robust mechanical support and electrospinning to mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) and regulate the biological interface, ultimately aiming to optimize tissue integration and minimize postoperative complications. In addition to the critical analysis of current advances, this review aims to serve as a practical guide for researchers in this field, providing a structured overview of the reported key parameters and conditions.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising localized strategy for the treatment of cervical cancer, ranking as the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. The integration of photosensitizers (PSs) in localized drug delivery systems (DDSs), particularly in electrospun nanofibers, holds tremendous potential to overcome the drawbacks of their systemic administration. Exploring multilayer fibrous architectures provides a versatile therapeutic platform to design the next generation of localized DDS. In this work, localized implants for cancer treatment using PDT were developed using polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), chitosan (CS) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) as biopolymers and a porphyrin (Por) as PS, following two approaches: blended PHA/Por electrospun microfibers and multilayered membranes (PHA–Por/CS/PEO) produced by sequential electrospinning. The synthesized Por displayed higher cytotoxicity in light compared to dark against tumor cells. All the developed membranes were characterized regarding their morphology, wettability, absorption and fluorescence properties. PHA–Por membranes exhibited overall uniform fibrous morphologies with successful Por incorporation. Nonetheless, they presented a highly hydrophobic surface, compromising the Por release and cell–material interactions. In contrast, multilayer PHA–Por/CS/PEO membranes demonstrated enhanced hydrophilicity and enabled sustained Por release. Upon light irradiation, these membranes induced a significantly greater inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation (29.61%) compared to dark conditions (6.21%), confirming their photodynamic activity.