Erin Go Green: Guinness Gets Ecofriendly

Sami Keinänen

Fans of Irish stout have another reason to raise their glasses on St. Patrick’s Day. Guinness is getting greener thanks to the genius of Irish scientists. They have figured out a way to keep that famous stout foamy and ecofriendly.

When you pop open a can of Guinness, plastic balls filled with pressurized nitrogen release bubbles that create a creamy head. However, researchers at the University of Limerick have found a biodegradable alternative to the plastic widget. Coating the inside of the can with plant fibers, or cellulose, also has the same affect on the popular stout. The technology is not quite ready for the shelves, but it could be coming to a beer can near you in time for another St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

There are ways you can make this holiday more ecofriendly, too. Click here to find out how you can go green for St. Patrick’s Day.