Millions of birds and other aquatic animals die every year because of plastic six-pack ring holders. Years ago, this was brought to the attention to the public and a campaign to cut up the rings was everywhere. Today, that message has been lost in a torrent of a million different ways we’re polluting the Earth. One brewery from Florida, Saltwater Brewery, has taken the matter in their own hands.

They have developed a durable six-pack holder made from a barley pulp. The barley is a natural byproduct of the beer making process, so the cost of creating the six-pack holder is relatively low. The best part is, the holder is completely biodegradable and can even be eaten by wildlife. For those that think the paper like holder just can’t stand up to the normal wear and tear of their plastic counterparts, you’d be wrong. The biodegradable holder is just as strong as the plastic holders without any of the polluting effects. Saltwater Brewery hopes that the large beer makers will pick up on this method and use it themselves. The more companies use the biodegradable holders, the lower the costs will be for everyone. If the entire industry switches over, the new barley holders will be highly competitive in price compared to the plastic counterparts.