VCG4TT: Digitalising value chains in the brewery industry for the twin transition
The Value Chain Generator (VCG.AI®) is an AI-driven platform that transforms how industrial side streams are repurposed. Designed with and for Pivovarna Laško Union, it automatically matches brewery by-products—like spent yeast and barley husks—with companies that can reuse them. The goal: to turn waste into value and accelerate the shift to a circular bioeconomy in Europe.
Breweries generate thousands of tonnes of organic waste each year. Much of it holds hidden potential, but identifying the right reuse partners is often slow, manual, and unreliable. At the same time, EU sustainability regulations are tightening, requiring clear proof of waste valorisation and emissions reduction.
What VCG.AI® does
The platform makes circular value chains visible, viable, and actionable. It:
- Scans public and private data to find material synergies across sectors
- Maps “BioLinks®” — high-value reuse pathways for brewery side streams
- Simulates business cases in real time, comparing revenues, investments, and carbon savings
Real-world impact
For Pivovarna Laško Union, VCG.AI® revealed:
- Up to €840,000 in potential annual value from reusing just half of its spent yeast
- 4,000 tonnes of by-products that could be redirected each year
- Significant reductions in CO₂ from transport and disposal
- A growing network of 10,000+ companies and 50 validated BioLinks®
- Integration of 1,000+ documents to power AI-supported decision making
What’s next
Following its successful pilot, the project led to continued collaboration with Pivovarna Laško Union toward a commercial agreement.
Future development will expand VCG.AI® to other material streams—packaging waste, CO₂ reuse, and water recovery—and offer a flexible SaaS model for SMEs, corporates, and circular economy consultants.
Learn more
Download the introductory presentation on the VCG project to discover how AI-driven matchmaking is unlocking new circular value chains in the brewing industry.
