While the design of the plastic rings that keep a beer six-pack are convenient for consumers, they are often deadly to fish, birds and other living creatures that live in and around the water. In order to create a positive solution to this problem, without changing the form of the packaging, We Believers and its client Saltwater Brewery created an all-new packaging system for the Screamin' Reels IPA.
The edible six-pack ring is biodegradable, compostable and edible, as it is made from barley and wheat from the brewing process. This means that sea life are able to safely ingest the rings if they should come across them and rather than putting their lives at risk, this packaging gives them nourishment.
This thoughtful design sets a precedent that the entire brewing industry should consider following for the sake of sea life.
What's Driving This Trend
- Biodegradable Packaging
- The creation of edible six-pack rings showcases opportunities for producing more biodegradable, sustainable packaging alternatives.
- Circular Economy
- This innovation presents opportunities to enter a circular economy where waste is used to create new products, reducing the strain on the environment.
- Eco-friendly Manufacturing Practices
- The demand for more eco-friendly manufacturing practices in industries that use packaging, such as food and beverage and consumer goods, will increase.
Who This Affects Most
- Brewing and Beverage
- Brewing and beverage companies can look into using biodegradable, edible six-pack rings to reduce their environmental impact.
- Food and Snack
- Similarly, companies in the food and snack industry can also explore opportunities to use biodegradable packaging alternatives.
- Consumer Goods
- Companies in the consumer goods industry should also take note and invest in eco-friendly packaging materials.
