The Circular Muffin Project: Baking with Purpose

At Saltire, we’re always looking for innovative ways to blend sustainability with exceptional food. That’s why we’re proud to share one of our latest initiatives:

The Circular Muffin Project — a collaboration with Abertay University and Interface that reimagines food waste as a resource.

The idea is simple, but powerful: take spent grain — the by-product left over from brewing beer — and use it to bake a delicious, nutritious muffin. Instead of discarding this fibre-rich material, we’re giving it a new life as part of a sustainable, health-conscious product.

Why Spent Grain?

Spent grain is often overlooked, but it’s packed with nutritional value. It contains:

• Around 70% dietary fibre, making it excellent for digestive health

• Roughly 20% protein, helping to support muscle and cell function

• Phenolic compounds and antioxidants, which can help combat inflammation and support overall well-being.

• A range of essential vitamins, including B vitamins like folic acid, niacin, and thiamine

Using this by-product not only boosts the health profile of our muffins, but it also significantly reduces food waste — a key goal of the circular economy. In this system, materials are reused, repurposed, or recycled, rather than being used once and discarded. It’s about creating food that’s better for people and the planet.

Where We Are Now

The Circular Muffin is still in development. We’re currently fine-tuning the recipe to ensure it meets our standards for taste, texture, and nutritional value. Our goal is to create a muffin that feels like a treat, but with real purpose behind every bite.

This project is more than just a recipe experiment. It’s a statement of intent: to innovate responsibly, reduce waste wherever possible, and show that sustainability and great food can go hand in hand.

We’re excited to keep sharing updates as we move forward. Stay tuned — there’s more to come from the Saltire kitchen.