This document summarizes the results of a questionnaire given to wine companies in Moldova about their perceptions and practices related to the circular economy. It finds that while most companies are familiar with the concept of a circular economy, over half do not currently process their wine by-products and most waste is disposed of in landfills. It concludes that more coordinated state action is needed to encourage companies to adopt more environmentally friendly, circular practices and make better use of by-products in order to transition to a true circular economy model.

1. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: PERCEPTION
AMONG WINERIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF
MOLDOVA
BUGAIAN Larisa, Dr. Sc., PhD., univ. prof., Technical University of Moldova
larisa.bugaian@adm.utm.md
DIACONU Cristina, PhD student, Technical University of Moldova
cristina.diaconu@adm.utm.md

2. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
INTRODUCTION
Undoubtedly, awareness of the
importance of the circular economy for
society, economic growth and maintaining
environmental balance is a fundamental
issue.
European Strategic steps in CE:
2014 “Towards a circular economy: a zero
waste programme for Europe”
2015 “Closing the loop – first EU action
plan for the circular economy”
2019 European Ecological Pact
2020 The new Circular Economy Action
Plan. The European Green Deal
2021 Global Alliance on Circular Economy
and Resource Efficiency (GACERE)
launched
2022 Adoption of several initiatives under
the action plan

3. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
INTRODUCTION
National Strategic steps in CE:
• The Environmental Strategy for 2014-2023
• The National Development Strategy
"Moldova 2030
• The National Programme on the Promotion
of Green Economy
• National Waste Management Strategy 2013-
2027
The vision outlined in Moldova 2030 is anchored in
two strategic international commitments: Association
Agreement with the European Union, signed in 2014
and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development
adopted by the Moldovan government in 2017 .
This 2 documents state that authorities commit to
improve progressively, through 2030 resource
efficiency in consumption and production, to decouple
economic growth from environmental degradation, in
other words to build a sustainable economy.

4. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT AND
CHARACTERISTICS OF GROWTH
Republic of
Moldova,
Wine industry
Yeast
sediment
waste -
(hl)
Yeast
sediment
waste -
(tons)
Grape
mark
(tons)
Bunches
(tons)
Total
(tons)
Total 94652.3 7572.2 39253.2 12144.2
58969.58
The winemaking industry plays a particular role in the
development and economic growth of the Republic of Moldova.
In addition to basic products, enterprises in this industry also
generate significant amounts of by-products, which if not
exploited cause significant damage to the environment.
WINE BY-PRODUCTS

5. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
RESEARCH/QUESTIONNAIRE
In order to outline a clear picture of the perception of the circular
economy among the economic agents in the Moldovan wine industry, as well as to
provide important answers to issues related to the de facto processing / separation
/ destination of waste generated by this sector, a questionnaire was developed.
Questionnaire wine
industry
30 questions
First part with
identification
data
Second-general
questions
related to the
circular
economy
3 distinct
parts
Third- specific
questions,
especially
regarding
processing wine
by-products.
TWO basic concerns was sought
through the questionnaire:
1. What is the level of knowledge and
awareness of the opportunities and the
need to align with the principles of the
circular economy among the economic
agents in the wine sector of the
Republic of Moldova?
2. What is the behavior of the economic
agents in wine industry towards waste?

6. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fig 1. The structure of the responding companies by size
Small (<49)
22%
Medium (50 : 249)
64%
Large (>250)
14%
As a result of the centralization of the answers, 14 valid questionnaires were operated,
completed by wine companies, which generate approximately 25-30% of the total by-
products at the sector level.
The distribution depending on their size was as follows: most were in the category
of medium-sized companies (64%), followed by the category of small companies (22%)
and large companies (14%). Over 92% of the responding companies have a complete
production cycle, both primary and secondary vinification

7. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
HAVE YOU HEARD SO FAR ABOUT THE
CONCEPT OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY?
Fig.3 The degree of familiarity with the term of circular economy
YES
79%
NO
21%
79% answered “YES” and 21% answered “NO”, which indicates that respondents
are largely familiar with this term.
We can consider that the 21% of the wine companies that gave the answer “We
have not heard about the circular economy” is still quite high and indicates the
lack of a national information strategy on this concept, its opportunities, but also
legislative provisions in this regard.

8. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
WHAT WOULD YOU ASSOCIATE THE
CIRCULAR ECONOMY WITH?
WHERE DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS CONCEPT?
Figure 5. The main sources of information on the circular economy

9. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
DO YOU THINK THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN THE
CURRENT LINEAR BUSINESS MODEL AND CLIMATE
CHANGE?
The Transition From The Current Linear Economy To The Circular Economy Should Be
Integrated / Foreseen In The Company’s Strategic Plan?

10. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
In your opinion, what are the main benefits
of a company that implements the principles of
the Circular Economy?
Is there an Environmental Management System implemented in
the company where you work?

11. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
ARE WINE BY-PRODUCTS PROCESSED IN
YOUR COMPANY?
0
20
40
60
80
100
100% >50 % < 50 %
66,7
%
Some of the interviewees said that they are already using some of the wine by-products to
get new products. However, 57% DO NOT introduce these by-products into new
industrial circuits for various reasons.
For a more in-depth analysis of the use of wine by-products, it is of particular interest to
get an answer to the question IN WHAT PROPORTIONS ARE THEY PROCESSED -
100%,> 50%, <50%?

12. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
WHAT IS THE DE FACTO DESTINATION OF WINE
BY-PRODUCTS IN CASE OF NON-PROCESSING?
50%
42.86%
21.43%
7.14%
0
0
Are transported and evacuated to the
authorized landfill
Are marketed
Did not answer
Are stored in specially arranged places on
the territory of the enterprise, without…
Are handed over to specialized energy and
industrial waste recovery units
Other destination

13. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
RATE FROM 1 TO 5 THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE STATE
IS TAKING SUFFICIENT ACTION TO MONITOR THE
DESTINATION OF WINEMAKING WASTE.
, where 1 - NOT enough actions are undertaken, 5 - MANY actions are undertaken.
Score 1 Score 2 Score 3 Score 4 Score 5
Answers 6 4 1 3 0
The average score obtained for this question is 2.07, most of
the respondents - 43% assigning a score of 1, which means
that the state does not take enough action to monitor the
destination of waste from winemaking.

14. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
CONCLUSIONS
 There are positive concerns about the circular economy. Theoretically,
wine companies are largely familiar with this concept, which aims at how
they should interact economically and socially, without compromising the
balance of nature, which is positively appreciated.
 Unfortunately, the practical attitude of companies towards the environment
is still at a lower level, 64% of the responding wine companies have not yet
implemented an Environmental Management System.
 In fact, more than 57% of the responding companies do not capitalize on
wine by-products, and the others, 43%, capitalize on less than 50%.
 Therefore, we deduce that substantial quantities of by-products are
converted into waste, reaching landfills.

15. The 18th Economic International Conference
Challenges and Opportunities for
a Sustainable Development
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 2022
CONCLUSIONS
 Their uncontrolled disposal has a detrimental impact on the environment,
on the other hand, they do not take advantage of potential economic
opportunities from the exploitation of wine by-products.
 In this context, the need to take further action by the state to encourage
companies to adopt „environmentally friendly” business practices becomes
crucial.
 Certainly undertaking coordinated actions at local, regional, national level,
building constructive partnerships between the private and state sectors,
applying various tools, innovative projects, relevant technologies, support
policies etc., would facilitate, stimulate the transition to a circular economy,
thus contributing to the implementation of the proposed circular economy
agenda at state level.
The article is made within the National Project “Development of the mechanism of circular economy in the Republic
of Moldova ”, 20.80009.0807.22 based on the contract no.122 / 2-PS from „01” 01.2020.