Brewery 85 testing biodegradable six-pack rings.

A Greenville brewery is testing six-pack rings made from plant-based, biodegradable fibers.

Brewery 85 is testing the packing in the Upstate, according to a news release.

The rings are made from by-product waste and compostable material from the brewing process, the release said, and if the rings end up in nature, the product is edible for wildlife or will break down.

Matthew Nesbit, director of production for Brewery 85, introduced the idea last year, the release said. A fisherman and conservationist, Nesbit is a former park ranger.

"It's frustrating to see the damage that non-recyclables and plastic have on the environment," Nesbit said in the news release. "It's especially frustrating to see that happen to wildlife that inhabits our local South Carolina coast and its waterways. When I stumbled on this (idea for biodegradable packaging) it was a no-brainer."

Brewery 85 partnered with E6PR to test the product on Fishin' Beer Helles Lager brand. The trial run will be distributed through KW Beverage of Greenville in select Upstate locations, the release said.

"With all of the partnerships that we maintain with local and regional conservation groups as well as our green initiatives onsite here at our facilities, partnering...