The Irish Mail on Sunday

Saviour in a six-pack: The edible beer cans holder that could save our sea life

- By Jamie Pyatt

BREWERY bosses have come up with a novel idea to cut the appalling toll that discarded plastic is taking on sea life: edible ring binders for beer cans.

The binders, which hold cans together, are among the most destructiv­e waste dropped into our oceans because they are often mistaken for jellyfish and swallowed by larger fish. But the new binders, devised by the Saltwater Brewery in Florida, are made using byproducts from the brewing process and can be eaten by marine animals.

And if they are not consumed, the binders are fully biodegrada­ble and quickly disintegra­te.

Marco Vega, of the brewery’s advertisin­g agency, said: ‘Initially we wanted to make the rings from seaweed but it was too fragile. But what we have come up with works perfectly and is safe in the sea.’

 ??  ?? threat: A dolphin toys with a plastic beer ring holder. Left: The new edible ones
threat: A dolphin toys with a plastic beer ring holder. Left: The new edible ones

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