World’s first edible and biodegradable six-pack can rings could save marine life

The world’s first biodegradable six-pack can rings can be eaten by marine life and could protect them from choking to death on plastic alternatives.

Saltwater Brewery, a craft beer brand in Florida, and advertising brand We Believers, have created the innovative packaging for beer and soft-drink cans to protect marine animals and birds from choking or ingesting the more commonly used plastic rings.

"Around the world, an estimated one million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles become entrapped in plastic or ingest it and die each year," Mark Tokulka, a marine biologist, explained in the company's video.

Using wheat and barley by-products from the brewery, the rings can be used to feed animals and are also compostable.

“Besides being 100 percent biodegradable, compostable, and edible, they are strong enough to carry the contents,” chief engineer of manufacturing Francisco Garcia said in the video.

The rings have been launched in a number of bottle shops across the United States.