A new invention may give beer drinkers something to toast.
The plastic ring that holds a six-pack of beer together can now be manufactured from wheat and barley using the residue from the brewing process.
Saltwater Brewery, a Florida craft beer brand, and We Believers, a small agency in New York, created the invention.
They say they are safe for wildlife and marine life to eat, but strong enough to carry the weight and handling of cans.
According to a recent report, about half of the 6.3 billion gallons of beer consumed annually in the U.S. is sold in cans, which is packaged in six-packs and held together with plastic rings.
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The plastic often ends up in the ocean, where it can strangle wildlife. It’s common for fish to ingest the plastic and then starve as their digestive systems become blocked.
It’s estimated that one million sea birds and 100,000 sea mammals and sea turtles around the world become trapped in plastic or ingest it and die.
The edible and biodegradable six-pack rings are manufactured using 3D printer-generated molds.
Saltwater Brewery plans to produce 400,000 edible six-pack rings per month, which will handle its current monthly production.
It estimates that the $10 price for it six-pack will increase 10 to 15 cents.
Chris Gove, president of Saltwater Brewery, said he wants to inspire the big players in the beer industry to get on board and implement this technology, which could lower the cost of production and be competitive with the current market solution.
To see a a video of how it works see http://bit.ly/1UjpMID
