Saving the planet one snack at a time

25th June 2023 | EATIVITY Editors

Upcycled Grain Project is a sustainability initiative founded by award-winning Kiwi snack brand Rutherford & Meyer. It rescues the leftover grain from beer brewing to create tasty and indulgent crisps adding to an ever-growing trend of eco-conscious products. The project was founded in 2019, and has since flourished thanks to a dedicated team which is passionate about artisan-made products and the
planet.

Rutherford & Meyer has been committed to sustainability since it was first established in 1996.

The concept of saving the planet one snack at a time was born out of the idea that food manufacturers should leave earth better than they found it. Then, when discovering the amount of food waste leftover from beer-brewing processes, the innovative idea to transform ‘spent’ grain into tasty, golden
crisps, was sparked.

The upcycling process involves mixing traditionally discarded wheat grains, with other natural ingredients, like fruit, to create vegan friendly snacks that don’t call for new resources. No material gets left behind, and healthy crackers are produced, all while reducing food waste. The brand ethos is as easy to digest as the products themselves: they grow, brew and ‘rescue’ grains and turn them into something special.

When it comes to the flavour, the spent grain has no alcoholic aftertastes. It’s also bursting with nutritional value, so while you’re saving the planet one snack at a time, you’re also getting nutritional benefits. When steeping the malt barley for beer-brewing none of the goodness is lost, so the rescued grain is packed with fibre and protein, as well as the added benefits of vitamins and amino-acids. Additionally, all crisps are vegan-friendly, GMO-free and 100 percent natural.

The upcycling process isn’t just good for the planet, but good for consumers, too.

Upcycled Grain Crisps are currently available in four flavours, Raisin and Rosemary, Orange and
Sesame, Cranberry & Coconut, and Fig & Cardamom. They can be used with fruit paste, cheese or dips, making them a go-to option on a grazing board. Or, if you want to contribute to saving the planet one snack at a time, the crisps can be simply enjoyed on their own for wholesome snacking on-the-go.

The range of crisps from New Zealand has recently started to roll out across selected Woolworths stores in Australia, as big supermarket chains cater more to eco-conscious consumers. And, as the packaging suggests, this is the only crisp brand customers can enjoy knowing that each crisp is made with upcycled grains.

A major goal of the Upcycle Grain Project is to ‘close the loop’ in food manufacturing. The initiative plans to do this by sourcing reusable materials and lessening the extent of food wastage currently occurring. The project prides itself on using only the very best natural ingredients, providing consumers with tempting options to enjoy while supporting environmental action.