A major beer company will be replacing traditional plastic 6-pack rings with biodegradable rings that are not harmful to wildlife and the environment. Good News Network reports Corona will be testing the new 100% plastic-free 6-pack rings in Mexico at the beginning of 2019. If successful, the company hopes to expand its product, and its use, to the U.K.
The new plastic-free rings are being made from plant-based biodegradable fibers, with a mix of by-product waste and compostable materials.
If left in the environment, they break down into organic material that is not harmful to wildlife, whereas the industry standard plastic six pack rings are made from a photodegradable form of polyethylene that results in increasingly smaller pieces of plastic if not recycled—at a terrible cost to the environment.
More than a million marine creatures and other birds and animals die from plastic trash each year. Many get caught up and strangled by the plastic 6-pack rings, or die from trying to consume/digest the material.
This year, Corona partnered with the nonprofit environmental organization Parley for the Oceans. Together, they have conducted cleanups in over 15 different countries, collecting over three million pounds of plastic waste on beaches.
“The beach is an important part of Corona’s DNA and we have been working with Parley to address the issue on the frontlines where plastic is physically accumulating,” said Corona Better World Director Evan Ellman in a statement. “We also recognize the influence a global brand like Corona can have on the industry, and with the support of Parley, are pursuing scalable solutions like plastic-free six pack rings that can become a new standard to avoid plastic for good.”
Along with Corona, Carlsberg Beer and Saltwater Brewery are also looking for animal and eco-friendly alternatives. Cheers to companies like this for their innovative concern for the earth—and all of its inhabitants.