I’m not a pro brewer, I’m just a lowly homebrewer and beer consumer. I love the can revolution, but I truly hate these six pack holders that cover the top of each can. I know the plastic rings I grew up with were an environmental disaster, but there has to be a better way than these can holders. There’s no way to get a can loose without shaking it up and the volume of plastic required upsets my environmental sensibilities. End of rant, what options are available to the pro beer canner?
I’m with you. I little pull tab that breaks the ring but doesn’t come off would be nice.
How about just put them in a box?
Amen brother. I hate those things.
I like the challenge! Actually I hate them. I figure there must be a trick but I’m not figuring it out
I always pull them apart and stick them in the fridge individually. Maybe you could use some wire cutters or something to crack the edge and make them easier to release
Chainsaw?
My see you have been butchering elephants jim.
Swiped from interweb. Thought of using it for a label. Call it “Surgeon General Warning”
I think they could still use the old 6 pack can holders with rings. They are all biodegradable in N. America now. However, I think probrewers are limited to what is available or economical for low-volume canning operations.
They are evil.
I don’t really have much trouble with them. Put thumb on top, wrap fingers around can, press with thumb and pull. For a small operation, the HDPE holders are pretty attractive, IMHO. There’s some free branding, assuming you can pick a color no one else in your market is using. Plus they can be put on the cans with nothing more than a rubber mallet, and they’re durable enough that they can generally be reused at least a couple times. As you say, there’s also the environmental consideration - for some reason, consumers don’t realize that the old-school rings are recyclable.
The only other option I’ve seen is the plastic rings that go around the center of the cans and have a carrying handle.
It’s rare when I find a can that just won’t break free without the jaws of life.
I do find it surprising that the plastic holders are used over cardboard boxes. I would think the boxes would be cheaper and easier to fill on a line.
Using cardboard carriers would require more printing. Why spend the money on the carrier when the can is already 100% printed?
Try push-ups. 
I can envision a 6-pack can holder that resembles are smaller version of bottle holder but made from a clear material that lets the branding of the cans show thru. If the material was organic and water-soluble (obviously with a good long soak, not just being sprayed with water or beer) that would be an even bigger plus.
Obviously the advantages would be that there would be no printing, it’s generic so you never have to adjust production leading to lower costs and reusable until you want to dispose of it.
Just brainstorming.
It’s all in the technique, boys…
Looks like he got a bit of foam with that one. 
I will file that away in the noggin.
30 packs don’t have this problem.