Beer grains (BSG), the forged waste generated in beer production, are composed of fiber (70%), proteins (20%) and other nutritional compounds, as well as vitamins, minerals and polyphenols. Although it is an abundant source of protein, BSG has been underutilized lately. It is basically used for the production of biogas, as fertilizer and as feed for livestock, either directly at the rainfall level or processed and dried.
Numerous clinical articles have presented the possibilities of extracting and valorizing the protein fraction of BSG as a plant-based ingredient, but, to date, there is little evidence that these findings are being followed up and hopefully shared by the industry.
There are some exceptions to this rule, and Duynie Group is one company that has developed a commercially available BSG recycling solution. The company, which has a long history of recovering waste potato starch from potato processing, has evolved a patented mechanical separation procedure to break down BSG into its components, which are then reused for applications.
Bas Weren, chief commercial officer of Duynie Ingredients, a subsidiary of the Duynie Group, told us that Duynie Group is the first company that has developed the functions to separate BSG into protein and fiber in this way.
“There are examples of projects that fit BSG for certain applications, but no one else is doing what we are doing, and at the scale at which we are doing it,” he said.
For the brewery in question, this order is part of its commitment to sustainable growth goals and will contribute to its ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its value chain by 2040. The first phase of the order is being implemented at a pilot site, which is expected to be fully operational until 2025.
It involves installing a processing plant at the brewery to separate the BSG into protein and fiber. The protein will then be reduced to a concentration greater than 70% for food and animal use, while the fiber will be used to produce renewable energy in -. Once this pilot is operational, there are plans to deploy generation to six more s until 2027.
Considering price, the bulk of protein will be for human consumption, with plant-based and hybrid baked goods and meat products among applications. Looking at volume and diversity, Duynie Ingredients also aims to supply protein to the puppy food and aquaculture industries, where Weren said it can be used in compound feed. normal or as an alternative to soy protein in premixes.
In this project, fiber will be used to generate renewable energy, contributing to the brewery’s Scope 1 reductions. However, Bas said the fiber fraction can just as easily be repurposed for use in plant-based meats or nutrition bars, for example.
“We take each task on a case-by-case basis, based on market needs and client objectives, and combine them,” he explained.
This procedure is a notable example of recycling, but we are keen to emphasize that the Duynie Group’s purpose is to create a more sustainable price chain, not recycling consistent with the SE.
“The purpose is to create a more sustainable price chain; creating recycled items is one way to achieve this purpose. . . It is vital to compare each task on its own merits because in some cases, the amount of energy required to process the recovered curtains mean that, in the end, the recycled element is rarely very “not sustainable,” he noted.
The collaboration with the brewery is the first step in creating a complete chain for BSG; The next steps will be to gain buy-in from food and feed processors, stores and foodservice operators, and Duynie Group is already meeting this challenge.
“We have the help of a giant brewery; now we want to create a ‘pull’ in the market. We are in talks with stores who want to make their product portfolio more sustainable and with food brands who want to reduce their emissions. We, creating more sustainable ingredients requires a holistic approach to the price chain,” Weren said.