Da scarti a materiali rice-based: l'esperienza di Ricehouse tra architettura e design

Agri-food waste represents a critical environmental challenge, due to the huge annual account and the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda with SDG no. 12 advocates for sustainable practices to manage and reuse this kind of waste. In the case of rice cultivation, a large quantity of by-products are generated from its supply chain, such as straw, husk and bran, which are rich in silica and have good thermos-hygrometric and mechanical properties. Despite this, they are not valorised. Since 2016, the company called Ricehouse has experimented and started the production of innovative and ‘new’ rice-based building materials, using them for diff erent architectural and design projects. The practices adopted by Ricehouse are characterised by a systemic and collaborative approach involving local stakeholders, embracing principles of circular and bioregional economies. This model seems to be a signifi cant case study, potentially replicable within other agri-food sectors, fostering the development of resilient and sustainable local economies. In fact, Ricehouse exemplifi es how multidisciplinary design and systemic innovation can catalyse virtuous transformations toward a real ecological transition, eff ectively integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions. This paper presents an exploration of the potential for valorising by-products from the Italian rice production supply chain, focusing specifi cally on the case of Ricehouse.