Abstract The development and application of green analytical techniques aiming at the sample preparation of complex matrices for the study of organic compounds have been growing considerably over the last 15 years. Miniaturisation, automation and solventless techniques are gaining importance in this field, associated to others, as is the case of metrics. However, the unreflected use of the so-called green analytical techniques “might lead to doing the same things better, rather than rethinking solutions altogether”. Some limits and potentialities of the green sample preparation towards sustainable separations of organic compounds using the biorefinery concept will be also discussed in this paper, a promising biobased route that can integrate sustainable extraction and purification processes in a whole complete circular unity.