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(Courtesy E6PR)
Plastic four and six-pack beer rings are a nightmare. They trash oceans, ensnare sea life, clog landfill sites and will outlast all of us all. And over the years beer producers have been exploring more eco-friendly alternatives.
In 2017, Mexican startup E6PR introduced eco-friendly biodegradable and compostable beer packaging that safely breaks down outside or in the water.
In 2018, Carlsberg announced that it would be replacing traditional plastic 6-pack rings, with tiny dots of glue binding the cans together that won’t trash the world’s oceans or entangle its sea life.
In 2019, Guinness, which is owned by Diageo, announced that it was replacing the plastic rings with cardboard packs which are sustainably sourced, recyclable and fully biodegradable.
In 2020 Corona introduced fit packs, an award-winning interlocking beer can alternative to plastic 6-pack rings.
In 2022 Molson Coors committed to transitioning its entire portfolio of brands in the Americas, starting with Coors Light, away from six-pack plastic rings by 2025.
“Our business, and Coors in particular, has a long history of using packaging innovation to protect our environment, and today we are building on that rich legacy,” said Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley at the time. “Just as Coors led the way by pioneering the recyclable aluminum can, Coors Light will lead the way by moving out of single-use plastic rings in North America.
And now Monroe, Louisiana-based Flying Tiger Brewery has become the first craft beer producer in the state to utilize the progressive packaging that biodegradable, compostable, and even edible rings for its beer.
“They don’t harm animals and they don’t put waste on the street,” James Simpson, Flying Tiger’s co-founder and head of operations told NOLA. “And they disappear into nothing.”
Although technically edible, Simpson noted, “I actually had a nibble; they taste a lot like cardboard, not something you’ll find on a plate with a side of garlic potatoes anytime soon.”
The biodegradable rings used by Flying Tiger are provided by the Mexican start-up E6PR, which stands for “Eco Six Pack Ring.”
Initially marketed as “edible,” these rings have been recognized around the world for their environmental qualities, but less so for their tastiness.
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