Drink more beer and save our sea life

21 February 2017 - 09:33 By Tanya Farber
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Sun, sea and beer - it's the South African way of life.

But out in the ocean sea life is suffering as the plastic rings that hold six-pack beers together kill animals, deform their growth by slow strangulation and generally sicken them.

But a brewery in Florida, in the US, has come up with an innovation that will not only reduce the threat posed by the packaging but will feed sea creatures.

According to Peter Agardy, of Saltwater Brewery: "We conceived, designed, tested and prototyped the first-ever edible six-pack rings.

"They are made from by-products of beer-making and instead of killing animals will feed them. They are 100% biodegradable and can be used to make compost."

Two of the main ingredients in brewing beer are wheat and barley. They are now being used in the manufacture of the edible six-pack rings.

According to non-government organisation Clean Water Action, marine pollution by plastic has affected at least 267 species, including 86% of turtle species, 44% of sea bird species and 43% of marine mammals.

"Sea birds that feed on the ocean surface are especially prone to ingesting floating plastic debris," the organisation said.

  • Saltwater Brewery wants breweries to follow its lead by switching to edible six-pack rings, which would lower production costs to the extent that the plastic rings would become redundant.

Sou th Africa participated in the International Coastal Clean-Up for the 20th year in September . At the time, John Kieser, sustainability manager of Plastics SA, said plastic micro debris was the biggest contributor to beach litter.

"There has been a marked increase in the number of paper and foil food wrappings collected along the coastline,'' he said.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now