Tensei Limited, supported by Growing Kent & Medway, led a project in Kent to turn Second Harvest farm waste into sustainable bio-fillers. This medium-sized R&D grant project proved that materials like hop bines can be compounded with plastic polymers, creating a new revenue stream for growers and reducing plastic use.

Canterbury Brewers & Distillers, an award-winning Kent spirit producer, used support from Growing Kent & Medway to solve their primary waste problem. One of our medium-sized grant programmes helped prove they could utilise whiskey by-products – spent grain, water, and CO₂ – to cultivate speciality gourmet mushrooms, creating new high-value food products and a true circular economy model.