Six-pack rings or six-pack yokes are a set of connected plastic rings that are used in

multi-pack A multi-pack also known as multipack is packaging that combines or holds multiple items or smaller packages. Functions Multi-packs can be used to: * Combine several items for a larger unit of sale, often with a reduced individual cost * Provide ...

s of beverage, particularly six-packs of

beverage can A drink can (or beverage can) is a metal container designed to hold a fixed portion of liquid such as carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, fruit juices, teas, herbal teas, energy drinks, etc. Drink cans are made of aluminum (75% of ...

s. The rings have gained notoriety because of concerns for marine debris entangling wildlife.

History

Within 10 years, plastic rings had completely replaced the paper and metal-based holders then common in the market.ITW History
Today several other manufacturers continue to produce six-pack rings. Though interest in

s has continued to grow, other variations, including paperboard baskets and

LDPE Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic made from the monomer ethylene. It was the first grade of polyethylene, produced in 1933 by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) using a high pressure process via free radical polymerization. Its ...

plastic can carriers, have grown in popularity, providing an alternative to conventional six-pack rings.

Environmental concerns

Since the late 1970s, six-pack rings were recognized as a form of

marine litter Marine debris, also known as marine litter, is human-created waste that has deliberately or accidentally been released in a sea or ocean. Floating oceanic debris tends to accumulate at the center of gyres and on coastlines, frequently washing ...

. It is recommended that each loop be cut so that no entanglement can occur. In a cleanup of an Oregon beach in 1988, 1,500 six-pack rings were picked up by volunteers in a few hours. Like other

plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptab ...

products, the production of the plastic rings uses

fossil fuels A fossil fuel is a hydrocarbon-containing material formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the remains of dead plants and animals that is extracted and burned as a fuel. The main fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels ...

. Compared to fishing gear, cigarette butts and other plastic wastes, six-pack rings are a smaller contributor to

. The first law banning non-degradable ring carriers was in the US state of Vermont in 1977, and by 1991 27 states had followed suit. A

biodegradability Biodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. It is generally assumed to be a natural process, which differentiates it from composting. Composting is a human-driven process in which biodegradati ...

performance standard was recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1993, following the findings that non-degradable ring carriers had been found in great quantities in the marine environment where they persisted for decades and threatened marine life. In 1994 The US Federal Regulation proposed that all plastic ring carriers be naturally degradable materials, applying to all importers and processors. Many manufacturers do this by using photodegradable material, which can take months to break down. However, the fragments and

microplastics Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic less than in length, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the European Chemicals Agency. They cause pollution by entering natural ecosystems from a v ...

resulting from the decomposition process can still be eaten by animals. In 2010, Saltwater Brewery developed eco-friendly rings that are biodegradable and compostable. In 2018 Carlsberg Breweries announced the use of a new type of glue, which took three years to make, that would hold their beers together instead of plastic rings.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Six Pack Rings Packaging materials Products introduced in 1960 Plastics and the environment sv:Dryckesburk#Sixpack