Sicily, Italy — 11 February 2026 — The Interreg Italy–Austria project BeSoGreat carried out a study visit in Sicily to strengthen cooperation on circular materials and learn from one of Europe’s pioneering initiatives in valorising brewing by-products.
During the visit, the project partners met with the EcosMed Social Cooperative Society to exchange insights on “LIFE RESTART – Reuse of bEer SpenT grAin foR bioplasTics”, a project widely regarded as a key reference point for the development of BeSoGreat. The discussions focused on practical pathways for reusing beer spent grain—one of the most abundant by-products of brewing—within high-value, lower-impact material applications, as well as the organisational and technical lessons needed to scale circular solutions.
The consortium also visited Fabbrica Zero in Roccavaldina, the pilot plant where biocomposites derived from beer spent grain are produced. The materials developed at the site have already been incorporated into BeSoGreat activities, making the visit particularly timely as BeSoGreat moves toward its final phase ahead of the project’s conclusion in March 2026.
By connecting project teams and showcasing proven pilot-scale production, the Sicily visit reinforced shared goals around resource efficiency, sustainable innovation, and circular material use—and highlighted how cross-regional collaboration can accelerate the uptake of biobased alternatives in real-world applications.