That first sip of cold beer from an aluminum can or a bottle tastes great, doesn’t it? But don’t you wish there was a convenient way to keep that can colder, longer?  Commodore Plastics (www.commodoresolutions.com) has the answer with its new Labec® foam label stock, and is targeting both large and small breweries. Material for sampling is available right now from Commodore Plastics. Commodore Plastics will be exhibiting at the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America, Booth 5125, to be held in Washington, D.C. on March 26-29.

Commodore has developed a technique for coextruding polystyrene (PS) foam shrink-label stock that insulates aluminum, glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage containers, keeping liquids colder, for longer. The label also provides breakage protection to glass. Commodore tests have demonstrated that Labec foam PS labels keep beverages colder an average of 15 to 20 minutes colder than plain cans, based on a beverage-temperature gain without the label of 20 to 30F over the course of one hour.

One notable feature of the labels is their aesthetics. Labec PS foam labels may be printed, hot-stamped for a premium look, metallized and embossed, among other options. Also, the insulating properties of Labec foam mean the beverage may be enjoyed straight from the can without any of the extra moisture and condensation inherent in aluminum cans as they warm towards room temperature. In addition, says Brad Braddon, president of Commodore Plastics, “The labels can improve recyclability of containers, if left on aluminum cans or ground up with glass bottles. The fuel value of the label replaces 5 to 8% of the natural gas used in recycling.”