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.