Valorisation of residual materials in agro-industrial production chains – Circular transitions in South Tyrol (Italy)

Camilo Ayala-Garcia; Noa Ruth Paul; Laura Bordini; Mila Stepanovic; Nitzan Cohen

doi:10.69143/2464-9309/19242026

Authors

Camilo Ayala-Garcia Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)
Noa Ruth Paul Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)
Laura Bordini Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)
Mila Stepanovic Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)
Nitzan Cohen Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/19242026

Keywords:

agro-industrial by-products, waste valorisation, material-driven design, systemic design, circular economy

Abstract

In Alpine regions such as South Tyrol, agro-industrial and agricultural activities generate large quantities of by-products whose current uses often fall short of their potential as secondary material resources. Collaboration between design, science, and technology promotes sustainable material innovation, and this interdisciplinary approach forms the basis of the present research. The study examines four by-products from the region’s dairy, brewing, fruit-distillation, and sheep-farming sectors, combining material, technological, and systemic perspectives. The preliminary findings identify concrete pathways for reintegrating these underused resources into local production chains, while also highlighting the regulatory, infrastructural, and economic constraints that currently limit their valorisation.

Article info

Received: 11/03/2026; Revised: 19/04/2026; Accepted: 24/04/2026

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Author Biographies

Camilo Ayala-Garcia, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)

Designer and PhD, he is a Researcher and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Design and Art. His current research connects emerging technologies and materialities towards transitional circularity, with a strong focus on tools that foster knowledge sharing, as well as open-access materials and processes. Alongside his teaching activities, he has devoted his research to local materials and product development, obtaining several patents and publishing numerous academic contributions.
E-mail: camilo.ayalagarcia@unibz.it

Noa Ruth Paul, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)

She is a Designer and Research Fellow at the Faculty of Design and Art. She is an industrial designer specialising in ecological materials and sustainable innovation. As the founder of SAPPA Panels, a plant-based design company, she has led the development of sustainable acoustic solutions made from hemp residues, combining design excellence and environmental responsibility to create functional and sustainable interiors.
E-mail: noaruth.paul@unibz.it

Laura Bordini, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)

She is a Designer and Research Fellow at the Faculty of Design and Art. Her areas of interest include materials research, bio-design, and, more broadly, practices related to environmental and social sustainability. Her current research focuses on developing new materials and technologies and on their potential to redefine contemporary habits through more responsible alternatives. In particular, she explores the theme of ‘growing materials’ and research applied to microalgae.
E-mail: laura.bordini@unibz.it

Mila Stepanovic, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)

Designer and PhD, she is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Design and Art. Her research interests lie in product design, futuring practices, design for sustainability, and technological artefacts. She holds several national and international patents. Her research focuses on systemic visions for future scenarios and the realities of digital fabrication.
E-mail: mila.stepanovic@unibz.it

Nitzan Cohen, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)

Designer and Full Professor at the Faculty of Design and Art, he founded the ‘Design Friction Lab’, an interdisciplinary research and design laboratory seeking innovative and sustainable solutions for industrial and social transformation. Under his direction, the Lab is currently active in the development of ‘growing materials’, the future of open-source production, and sustainable nanoelectronics. He has won several international design awards, and his design and art-direction works are part of some of the most renowned design collections worldwide.
E-mail: nitzan.cohen@unibz.it

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