SP BREWERY PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COMPANY TO REPURPOSE BREWING WASTE

SOUTH Pacific Brewery has partnered with locally owned company Optimum Trade Limited to repurpose spent grain and sludge from its brewing operations in Lae for agricultural use.

The initiative is part of SP Brewery’s commitment to sustainability and circularity, by turning waste products into useful resources for local farms.

Spent grain is a leftover malted grain from the brewing process that is rich in fibre, protein and nutrients and has been used as compost and stockfeed.

Meanwhile, Sludge from SP Brewery’s wastewater treatment facility is also being collected and supplied to farms as a nutrient-rich soil conditioner to improve soil health and agricultural productivity.

SP Brewery Corporate Affairs Manager says the partnership supports a locally owned business while providing an environmentally responsible solution to waste management.

Optimum Trade Director Michael Early, who founded the company in 2022, says the partnership has already created positive outcomes beyond waste management.

He says farmers are increasingly requesting spent grain and sludge because the materials are provided at no cost, helping improve access to sustainable and affordable farming inputs.

The partnership is also creating opportunities for local people and businesses while supporting cleaner communities and more sustainable farming practices.

SP Brewery says the initiative aligns with its global sustainability strategy to close material loops across its value chain by 2030, ensuring valuable resources are reused rather than discarded.