Edible Six-Pack Rings protect marine animals.
It seems that if we want to protect our environment we can do that just by being a bit ingenious. A small American brewery has come up with the idea of producing 100 percent biodegradable and edible six-pack rings.
No wonder why they have become so popular in such a short time. Six-pack rings are usually made of plastic being a constant threat to the marine life. They can cause entanglement, strangulation, and impaction which is a build-up of plastic in the gut, often leading to death.
With a passion for conservation and top market fishermen, surfers and other people who love the sea, Florida’s Salt Water Brewery and We Believers, an advertising agency, found a more friendly approach to the environment.
Co-founder of We Believers and chief strategy office, Marco Vega, stated that it was a very exciting process that eventually paid off. On the 12th of May was posted the first video that enjoyed a wide popularity, viewed by millions of people.
The edible six-pack rings are made from wheat and barley. Plus, their production targets more than just zero waste, but also upon entering the ecosystem, the rings break down, making them able to be ingested by marine animals such as turtles and fish, with no consequences.
According to Marco, the rings are 100 percent biodegradable, natural and made from edible materials, safe for marine animals to ingest and digest. Their efforts have been acknowledged and appreciated by Jennie Gilbert, co-founder of Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, who knows very well the consequences of entanglement and plastic ingestion on marine life.
Nevertheless, Jennie believes that the study must go on to establish the long-term effects that the edible six-pack rings have on marine animals because barley and wheat are not natural components of their diet. Still, it is safer than plastic.
The companies will be able to provide 400,000 Edible Six-Pack Rings each month, which is enough to package every product of the brewery. Plus, they are very cheap as each ring is about 10 to 15 U.S. cents, a price that will not discourage customers.
Marco hopes that every big beer company will adopt this technology as the manufacturing cost will drop off, and the plastic solution will reduce significantly. Thanks to the edible six-pack rings, the beer industry has a new way of protecting the environment.
Image Source:Flickr
