Carlsberg Sverige leads circular economy push by turning beer dredge into food

Brewer´s spent grain, also known as dredge, is a by-product of beer production. Photo: Carlsberg Sverige

Carlsberg Sverige is joining forces with key Swedish industry players in the Brewed & Renewed research project to transform brewers’ spent grain, an abundant by-product of beer production, into a valuable food ingredient.

Led by RISE, Sweden’s leading research institute, the initiative brings together Axfood, Axfoundation, Bagerigruppen, Elajo and Fazer to explore innovative ways to integrate this nutrient-rich resource into products like bread and breakfast cereals. By scaling up its use in food production, the project aims to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and advance the circular economy.

Transforming dredge into value

Every year, Sweden generates around 80,000 tonnes of brewers’ spent grain — commonly referred to as dredge — most of which is currently used for animal feed, biogas or composting. However, this by-product is packed with protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, making it an ideal ingredient for human consumption.

Tim Nielsen, project leader at RISE said:

By bringing together actors from the entire value chain, the challenges that exist along the entire value chain can be solved, while the step from research to practical application is reduced. The hope is that the project will contribute to making brewer’s spent grain a valuable ingredient in a variety of food products, both new and old.”

By repurposing food industry sidestreams, Brewed & Renewed aligns with the principles of a circular economy, ensuring that raw materials are used more efficiently, reducing environmental impact and creating new value from what would otherwise be discarded.

Overcoming challenges in circular food production

Despite its potential, scaling up the use of dredge in food production comes with challenges. In its raw form, dredge is wet and highly perishable, making storage, transportation and processing a hurdle. Researchers are investigating on-site drying at breweries and fermentation techniques to improve shelf life and maintain nutritional value.

Additionally, the high fibre content of dredge affects food texture and flavour. By fine-tuning processing methods, scientists are working to integrate this ingredient into common food products without compromising quality.

Carlsberg Sverige commitment to a sustainable future

For Carlsberg Sverige, Brewed & Renewed is a natural extension of its mission to reduce waste and embrace a circular economy.

Jonas Kudermann, Production and Logistics Manager at Carlsberg Sverige explained:

Utilising residual products from beer brewing is an important part of a more circular economy. By participating in Brewed & Renewed, we continue our commitment to minimising our environmental footprint by recycling all residual products. We hope to be able to take the next step to make dredge a natural part of Swedish food production.”

Furthermore, the project also aligns with the company’s health and nutrition goals, as highlighted by Anna Anderberg, Sustainability Manager at Carlsberg Sverige:

Dredge is rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and also antioxidants. There is great potential in both sustainability and health if you manage to take advantage of it.”

A blueprint for circular food systems

Brewed & Renewed, funded by Formas, Sweden’s sustainability research council, will run from 2025 to 2026. The project’s goal is to optimise every step — from brewery to consumer — ensuring dredge-based foods are safe, nutritious and scalable.

Each partner plays a key role in making this circular economy vision a reality. Axfood and Axfoundation contribute expertise in sustainable food retail and distribution, Bagerigruppen brings bakery know-how, while Elajo develops advanced drying and processing technologies. Fazer, a leader in sustainable food solutions, will help integrate dredge into market-ready products.

If successful, Brewed & Renewed could redefine how food and beverage industries manage their sidestreams, transforming beer waste into a staple ingredient for the future.