We all know that our actions on land can and does affect life elsewhere. In this case, by “elsewhere” I mean the planet’s water sources – oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, etc.

Everything we do greatly affects how those in other ecosystems live and survive. For example, air pollution affects the air that we breathe and has led to global warming.

Perhaps one of the greatest pitfalls of all is trash litter. Take a look around outside, wherever you are, and you are bound to see traces of it. But what you might not see is the toll it takes on others.

Littering is a nasty human habit that some refuse to kick. It leads to air, soil, and water pollution. While it may not be what people are considering when they do it, there’s no arguing its negative effects on the planet.

But while some are not thinking about the negative impacts it has on others, one beer company is doing its part by trying to cut down on plastic waste.

Saltwater Brewery began in 2013. Based in Florida, the founder of the company, Chris Gove, is a lover of the ocean and wants to protect it as much as possible.

“The jewel of Florida is the ocean, so we all grew up seeing tar and different plastic on the beach and when we’re surfing and fishing we’ll catch plastic bags, and it’s horrible,” he told Upworthy.

He has since made it his mission to take the steps in reducing the amount of waste in the oceans.

If you drink beverages out of cans and liters, you’ve probably noticed the plastic rings they come with. Well, a lot of people toss them outside and into the environment. In turn, many animals become trapped in their rings or die attempting to eat them, as they often smell like food.

It was reported in 2017 that nearly 8 million tons of plastic were dumped in the water on an annual basis. That’s a lot of waste!

Gove partnered up with a company based in New York to begin the manufacture of edible rings. That’s right, you can eat them! But you might not want to since they taste like cardboard.

The rings are made of spent grain leftover from the brewing process. The rings are meant to be disposed of but just in case they’re not, there isn’t the concern that an animal will lose its life from consuming or getting trapped in the product.

Though traditional plastic rings were made to biodegradable in the 1980s, it has its flaws. The plastic takes about three to four weeks to breakdown, at best.

The only thing Gove and his team can hope for now is that the rest of the industry catches on and begin making their rings edible as well. Until then, there is still quite a way to go.

A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences stated:

“Plastic pollution in the ocean is a rapidly emerging global environmental concern, with high concentrations (up to 580,000 pieces per km²) and a global distribution, driven by exponentially increasing production.”

Though the edible rings might not solve the crisis, it sure puts things on the right path.

“It’s kind of like having a Sour Patch Kid. You’d rather have your kid eat a Sour Patch Kid than a Lego. That’s kind of how I see it,” Gove said.

He’s right. Any progress is progress. Though it’s a start, hopefully, other companies will follow their lead.

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Sources: Upworthy, Animal Channel, Harvard School of Public Health