11/12/2025
Sweden’s Edible Road Salt Is Saving Birds — Turning Winter Roads Into Safe Feeding Grounds.
In the icy stretches of Sweden, a remarkable innovation is protecting wildlife while keeping roads safe. Instead of using conventional rock salt — which often poisons birds and small animals when they ingest it — Sweden has begun testing a biodegradable, edible road salt made from beet extract and maize starch.
This natural mixture melts snow and ice efficiently but doesn’t dry out or poison animals that peck at the roadside residue. In fact, it provides a small boost of energy and hydration to birds struggling through harsh winter months.
The eco-salt also prevents corrosion on vehicles and reduces groundwater contamination — a win for nature, infrastructure, and all living things that share the roads.
By reimagining something as ordinary as road salt, Sweden is proving that innovation and compassion can travel the same road — one step closer to harmony between technology and wildlife.
