Scottish research project explores whisky by-products for compostable packaging

A new research collaboration in Scotland is investigating how waste from whisky production could be transformed into compostable packaging materials.

The initiative, called MycoPack, brings together Arbikie Distillery, Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Dundee. The project aims to repurpose by-products such as spent grain by combining them with mycelium — the root system of fungi — to develop lightweight, durable and sustainable packaging.

According to the project team, the resulting material is designed to be impact-resistant, fire-retardant and fully compostable, making it a potential alternative to plastic in various applications. Work over the next 10 months will focus on proving the concept, testing material performance and refining packaging design.

MycoPack is one of 11 projects to receive funding through Scotland Beyond Net Zero, a programme uniting universities across the country to support climate-related innovation. Each funded initiative involves collaboration between academic institutions and industry partners, addressing sustainability challenges in sectors such as food, energy, finance, the built environment, natural systems and transport.

Professor Nick Forsyth, Vice-Principal (Research) at the University of Aberdeen and Chair of Scotland Beyond Net Zero’s seed fund panel said: This is the second round of our seed fund, we have now supported 19 innovative and collaborative projects with a total of around £300k of funding. Each project involves at least two of our member universities and one external partner, including community groups, government bodies, and the private sector. This collaborative and integrated approach is crucial to us meeting Scotland's ambitious net zero targets. We cannot achieve these targets in isolation, we must work together to innovative, inform and adapt.

By seeking to turn distillery waste into valuable materials, the project aims to support circular economy principles while contributing to Scotland’s wider net zero goals.