Six-pack rings are a notorious enemy of nature, and we’ve been long instructed to clip them prior to tossing them out, lest we inadvertently strangle birds and fish. Yet a majority of the plastics we use, including six-pack rings, end up in the sea and in the stomachs of fish and other marine life.

 

Saltwater Brewery in Delray, Florida and We Believers, an ad agency, have partnered with a Mexican startup company of engineers to combat the issue. Their solution is the creation of animal safe, edible six-pack rings. These rings would be made from the byproduct of beer making, particularly barley and wheat, and the goal is to make them safe and edible for sea animals, and reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans. In addition, the rings would be biodegradable and compostable.

 

Saltwater Brewery’s primary audience is surfers, fishers, and others who have a close relationship with the sea, all who might be interested in keeping the seas clean and animals safe. The rings currently cost more to make than traditional plastic ones, but the brewery hopes to spread the word to others and encourage them to create their own, driving competition and lowering the price of production.

Hopefully the brewery and agency will partner with marine biologists to assure that the product is safe for animals. While the cause is noble, ocean ecosystems are fragile, and introducing any sort of foreign material can have deleterious effects. Still, it’s a strong step in the right direction. 

 

Photo via Saltwater Brewery