Waste milk proteins transformed into sustainable materials
An innovation company is turning waste milk proteins into high-value sustainable materials thanks to a collaboration with SRUC through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded Digital Dairy Chain programme.
Grouse Fibre has been developing new ways to convert casein - the main protein found in milk - into technical fibres and other advanced materials. The work aims to create more value from dairy by-products while supporting a more sustainable, circular economy.
Working from SRUC’s Barony Campus in Dumfries, the company became a tenant within the Dairy Research and Innovation Centre building, giving the team access to specialist laboratories, processing equipment and fresh milk from the Barony dairy herd.
The project brought together dairy science and advanced materials engineering. Each day began with fresh milk collected directly from the farm before being processed in the Dairy Research and Innovation Centre, where the milk was separated and the casein recovered. The protein was then refined and tested as the raw material for Grouse Fibre’s fibre-forming technology.
Over the course of the project, the team progressed from laboratory trials to producing casein-based materials at kilogram scale, demonstrating the commercial potential of the technology.
Since completing the Digital Dairy Chain project, Grouse Fibre has continued developing its fibres for technical applications with support from Scottish Enterprise and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Dr Tom O’Haire, CEO of Grouse Fibre, said: “The Digital Dairy Chain project has been catalytic for us. The funding enabled our research and unlocked a collaboration with SRUC that has been fundamental to our progress. Exposure to the dairy expertise on campus has allowed us to make significant leaps forward. Access to the Maker Space and laboratory facilities at the Dairy Research and Innovation Centre has provided such an advantage that we have extended our presence beyond the project.”
The collaboration is one example of how SRUC is helping businesses develop innovative products that add value to the dairy sector while supporting sustainable economic growth.
The project also highlights the role of SRUC’s innovation facilities in bringing together researchers and industry to accelerate the development of new technologies. This collaborative approach will continue through SRUC’s Innovation Centre approach, which spans the whole of Scotland, providing businesses with opportunities to access specialist expertise, facilities and partnerships to develop new products and processes.
Dante Coulton, Process Engineer at Grouse Fibre and Technical Lead of the DDC project, said: “Working on the Digital Dairy Chain project with SRUC gave us access to high-quality dairy processing and laboratory equipment, as well as the expertise needed to make the most of it. This was a key factor in the project’s success and led to new ideas and innovative processes that have significantly transformed our production methods and strengthened our expertise in casein and fibre production. It also provided valuable insights into our proteins, from the macro to the micro scale, opening up exciting new opportunities for the future of our business.”
The project was awarded £175,000 as part of the Digital Dairy Chain Collaborative Research and Development Grant Competition, which supports businesses developing innovative solutions for the dairy industry.
Grouse Fibre’s project focused on biorefining waste milk from the dairy industry to create casein-based fibrous materials with multiple use cases ranging from high value technical applications, textile fibres and even as an additive in horticultural growing media
Led by SRUC, the Digital Dairy Chain is transforming the dairy supply chain through innovation, collaboration and business growth across Cumbria and south and west Scotland.
The five-year programme is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through its flagship Strength in Places Fund, with £21 million awarded to help transform the regional dairy sector and strengthen the rural economy.
The programme supports businesses across the dairy supply chain through collaborative research, innovation funding, skills development and access to specialist facilities, helping bring new ideas from concept to commercial reality.
Posted by SRUC on 28/09/2026
