From Discover Magazine:
Edible Six-Pack Rings Feed, Rather Than Strangle, Wildlife
Plastic six-pack rings are the bane of conservationists — images of sea birds and turtles entangled in them serve as constant reminders that consumer culture and the environment don’t get along. But thanks to an innovation from a Florida-based brewery, we can feel a little better about enjoying a six-pack.
Saltwater Brewery has partnered with the ad agency We Believers to create what they say is the first fully edible beer can packaging. Made from byproducts of the brewing process such as wheat and barley, their six-pack holders are fully biodegradable and completely digestible. Rather than ensnaring curious animals in a corset of litter, the company’s six-pack rings could serve as a satisfying snack. And if nothing is biting, the rings quickly decompose.
Plus, the drink holders are just as strong as the plastic variety, which should keep those Screamin’ Reels safe, as well.
Very clever idea - all that is left in the spent grains are starch and some complex carbohydrates. Perfect materials for a pseudo-plastic.