E6PR is the very ‘name doesn’t roll off the tongue’ for an incredible invention that could save millions of birds and wildlife. Although some supermarkets have now banned their sale, those plastic can holders that surround many beers and ciders are lethal to wildlife.
Invented by a team of brainy engineers, these are the gold-standard and used worldwide for many brands of beer. If you don’t already pack in cardboard, you can order test packs in different sizes, to ‘try before you buy’. It’s known that consumers will always pay a few pence more, for items that are good for wildlife and the planet.
It’s unclear why plastic beer can holders are still on sale following the single-use plastic ban, but they appear to be around, as you often find them littered on the street. If you see any, rip up the holes and securely bin.
Although sometimes advertised as ‘biodegradable’, this takes months and meanwhile they are invisible, so get caught around necks of wildlife, or are accidentally ingested as microplastics. If big brands like Stella Artois can manage to pack their beers in cardboard, so can the others.
Boycott brands that pack beer and ciders in plastic rings.
Many creatures have been found trapped in plastic beer/cider rings. These include seagulls, sea turtles, squirrels, cats, ducks and hedgehogs (one was found dead in Swindon, having suffocated when getting trapped in a discarded one).
This company can also offer various compostable options for food service, as an alternative to plastic. Whilst politicians and media pundits waffle on about reducing litter and plastic waste, it’s small companies like these, that are actually ‘walking the talk’ and finding solutions that could be implemented today.
Raise Money By Recycling Cans
A third of all canned drinks are enjoyed away from home, so setting up a can recycling scheme with Every Can Counts is a great idea. Just order a free starter pack for your community centre, church or shop, then people can drop off cans.
You can then earn money with local scrap metal merchants, and give the funds raised to your favourite local cause. It’s a no-brainer way to help small charities. Buy a £10 can crusher (foot-operated) to squash cans down, to make room in the recycling bin.
