This master’s thesis examines the possibilities of cascade processing of by-products in fruit growing, focusing on apple pomace as a promising raw material for the development of circular business models. The aim of the study was to design technological solutions and assess the economic feasibility of two biomass cascade-use prototypes adapted to the conditions of Slovenian agriculture. In the first cascade stage, apple pomace was used for pectin extraction and gelling sugar production, while the remaining biomass from the extraction process served as a raw material for sustainable specialty paper production. The research is based on material flow analysis, biomass inventory assessment, and the principles of circular economy and cascading biomass use. The business models were developed using the Triple-Layered Business Model Canvas (TLBMC), incorporating economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. Particular attention was given to adapting the prototypes to the quantitative limitations of Slovenian biomass availability, logistics of biomass collection, and the spatial distribution of apple production. The economic evaluation included production cost calculations and profitability assessment of both prototypes. The results indicate that cascade processing of apple pomace can contribute to more efficient biomass utilization, higher added value of agricultural by-products, and the development of sustainability-oriented business models within the agri-food sector.
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