Spent Barley Paper

About the paper

Tree-free paper from brewers spent barley

Spent barley paper is made with the grain left over from brewing beer. We collect spent grain (barley, hops and more) from breweries and turn it into paper, often working with the beer-makers themselves.

Spent barley has relatively low cellulose, so we blend it with cotton pulp to create a beautiful, uniquely textured paper from what would otherwise be waste.

What it is used for

Its distinctive texture suits brewery branding and tactile print work.

• Labels, menus and postcards
• Signage for breweries
• Bags and gift wrap
• Notebook covers and placemats
• Coasters and packaging

How it is made

We turn residual brewing waste into paper through a simple, circular process.

• Spent grain is collected from breweries
• Cleaned and blended with cotton pulp for strength
• Formed and dried into textured sheets
• No wood pulp used

This recycling process helps reduce our carbon footprint.

Why it matters

Why spent barley paper matters

Made from brewing wasteBlended with cotton for strengthUniquely texturedTree-freeSupports circular use

Verified statistics

The numbers behind spent barley paper

38 million t

of brewers spent grain produced worldwide each year

Food science review

20 kg

of spent grain per 100 litres of beer brewed

Food science review

513 kg CO2e

per tonne from landfilling spent grain, which paper avoids

Food science review

Sources and data

Common questions, verified

What is spent barley paper made from?

Brewers spent grain, the barley husk residue left after mashing, brewing largest byproduct.

Can brewery waste replace wood pulp?

Trials produced biodegradable paper with strength close to commercial paper.

What is the environmental benefit?

It diverts a residue usually landfilled, which emits about 513 kg CO2e per tonne.

What people say

In the words of our customers

Spent Barley Paper brought the brewing story right onto our menus.Felix Weber

Our Spent Barley Paper tasting cards got the conversation flowing.Vikram Sethi

Spent Barley Paper gave our stationery a fresh look and a lovely backstory.Grace Mitchell