Guinness has joined Carlsberg in scrapping plastic ring carriers, many of which end up in the oceans and endanger sea life.

The brewer has promised that all multi-can packs will be sold in “sustainably sourced, recyclable and fully biodegradable cardboard” instead.

Carlsberg was the first to ditch plastic last September, creating a special glue that holds cans together.

Guinness said it will take time to phase in its changes though. It will start in Ireland in August before implementing them in the UK and around the rest of the world next year. And it won’t just be cans of the black stuff. Ring carriers and shrink wrap will be removed from multipacks of Harp and Smithwicks too.

It is estimated that around eight million tons of plastic is dumped in the world’s oceans every year. Although beer ring carriers only represent a small fraction of the amount of this, they can be the most dangerous to sea life. Images of sea turtles unwitting ocean-dwellers trapped in plastic or with pieces stuck up their noses has sparked outrage among environmental campaigners.

Carlsberg has estimated its “snap packs” will reduce plastic waste by more than 1,200 tonnes a year, equivalent to 60 million plastic bags.