Florida-based Saltwater Brewery has developed biodegradable beer rings, made from wheat, barley and byproduts from beer, that will not harm marine animals.

Once the packaging reaches the ocean, it disintegrates within two hours, and completely dissolves within three months.

Saltwater Brewery joined with advertising agency We Believers to create a sustainable packaging material that can carry a six pack of beer.

"We estimate the initial mass-produced batch will cost around 25 cents (17p) per unit."

We Believers co-founder Marco Vega was quoted by the Guardian as saying: "Initially we wanted to make the rings from seaweed, but it’s too fragile and rigid to use once taken from the ocean."

Making use of 3D-printed plastic moulds, the first batch of 500 edible rings was produced. However, this was expensive and not suitable to manufacture on a commercial scale.

Saltwater then created metal moulds that can monthly produce 400,000 edible rings units.

Vega was quoted by publication as saying: "We estimate the initial mass-produced batch will cost around 25 cents (17p) per unit, about ten cents more than the recyclable plastic six-pack rings Saltwater is (currently) using.

"If most craft brewers and big beer companies implement this technology, the manufacturing cost will drop and be very competitive."

Over 50 breweries have shown interest with Saltwater in using edible ring packaging. Saltwater Brewery expects to construct a production facility next year.

Annually around 67 billion beer cans are sold in the US.