(Picture: E6PR)

In the fight to make the world a better place for creatures great and small, the plastic rings that hold six packs of cans together have been a key battle point.

We know that those rings can cause serious harm to marine life, injuring turtles, suffocating dolphins, and entangling birds.

But the majority of brands have done sod all to remedy the problem, instead relying on customers to take the time to snip up the plastic rings before chucking them away.

One brewery has come up with an alternative solution.

Back in 2016 Saltwater Brewery created E6PR, a new type of six pack ring that’s made of biodegradable materials that marine life can eat.

(Picture: E6PR)

They’re made of wheat and barley, meaning that when the rings end up in the ocean or out in the world, animals can safely consume the packaging or it’ll just break down. No harm caused to animals and no plastic clogging up the sea. Sweet.

The rings have been in development for a while, but this month they’re finally launching in a number of stores in South Florida.

For now they’re only used by Saltwater Brewery rather than any major brands, but the craft beer spot hopes that other companies will jump on their creation and start using it for their products, too.

(Picture: E6PR)

The manufacturing of the rings isn’t cheap, but it’s hoped that if more brands buy in, the cost will go down.

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Chris Gove, the co-founder and president of Saltwater Brewery, said: ‘Together, we can all be advocates for a clean and safe environment.

‘Our goal is to transition all of the packaging in our facility to this six-pack ring alternative that goes beyond recycling and strives to achieve zero waste.’

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