Brewers’ spent grain is often used for low-value animal feed or discarded in landfills. Credit: Aimplas.

An international consortium of researchers and industry leaders is embarking on a project to transform brewers’ spent grain (BSG) into high-value bioplastics.

The POLYMEER project, funded by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking HORIZON programme, aims to establish a sustainable bio-based value chain and reduce reliance on fossil-based plastics.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Bioplastics currently make up a small fraction of global plastic production and the projected growth is insufficient to meet increasing market demand.

BSG, a byproduct of the brewing process, is often used for low-value animal feed or discarded in landfills. Despite its potential as a feedstock for bioplastics, its applications are limited due to poor mechanical properties and scalability challenges.

The POLYMEER project seeks to address these limitations by developing bioplastic materials derived from BSG.

See Also:

By converting wet BSG into high-added-value materials, the project aims to diversify the range of sustainable material solutions available to replace traditional plastics.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The consortium will focus on developing new bio-based polymers, copolymers and polymer blends based on BSG. These materials will be designed to meet specific property requirements for three targeted applications: mulch films for agriculture, textiles for the automotive industry, and tertiary packaging films for industrial purposes.

All products will be designed for recycling or biodegradation in specific environments.

Up to 2028, the project will optimise the conversion of BSG into bio-based building blocks and create high-performance bioplastics that can compete with conventional materials.

The consortium will assess the life cycle sustainability, cost-effectiveness and scalability of these solutions while engaging with key stakeholders to ensure market readiness and regulatory compliance.

To achieve these ambitious goals, an international consortium has been formed, including academic institutions, research centres and companies from Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

The project is coordinated by the Università degli Studi di Perugia and has received €4.9m ($5.4m) in funding.

By transforming brewers’ waste into valuable bioplastics, the consortium aims to reduce plastic pollution, promote sustainable resource management and drive innovation in the packaging industry.