EverGrain attains Upcycled certification

The Missouri-based specialist was created by AB InBev to upcycle  brewer’s spent barley into nutritious, sustainable proteins and fibre ingredients.

The first-of-its kind mark – which was launched last year – will enable EverGrain’s customers use the claim on their packaging.

“We started our journey in 2013, long before upcycling was a trend, with the goal of unlocking every grain of potential in our barley to have a positive impact on people and planet,” ​said Gregory Belt, EverGrain CEO.

“We are transforming spent barley – what we, at EverGrain, call saved barley – into one of the world’s most sustainable, accessible, plentiful sources of plant-based protein and fibre.”​

EverGrain’s large-scale facility at its St. Louis headquarters is expected to be fully operational by the summer. The state-of-the-art plant will focus on producing EverPro, a soluble plant-based protein that is highly compatible with pea protein. EverPro’s nutritional profile is high in bio-available protein, low in carbs, and with just half a gram of sugar per 100g. It is also free from cholesterol, soy and dairy.

The company is also exploring plant-based protein and fibre ingredients that can be used in breads, pastas and meat alternatives.

The power of upcycled nutrition

“As the world’s largest brewing company, AB InBev depends on high-quality barley from thriving communities and healthy ecosystems to brew our beers,”​ said Ties Soeters, EverGrain’s chief product owner.

“Every year, 1.4 million metric tons are left over, or ‘spent’ through the brewing process.​

“Given the global scale, protein quality and market advantage, the team at EverGrain saw a unique opportunity to unleash the power of upcycled nutrition to meet the increasing global demand for plant-based products.”​

The certification timing is spot-on to capitalise on the growing demand by consumers for products that make an impact on the planet. According to the UFA, the outcome of the Upcycled Certification has exceeded original expectations, with the 141 packaged goods and ingredients already bearing the designation projected to prevent more than 703 million pounds of food waste annually.

Win:win

UFA’s founder and CEO Turner Wyatt said the endorsement has a two-pronged effect – enabling producers to leverage their size, scale and ability to innovate from within, and helping consumers accelerate their impact through informed choices.

“This represents a major shift in our consumer product and retail environments because for the first time, consumers can help to prevent food waste every time they walk into a grocery store,”​ said Wyatt.

Introduced in 2021, EverGrain has also achieved a Non-GMO Project Verification, the only third-party non-GMO authentication for food ingredients.