A Cold Drink For A Warm Future

Environmentalists are cool to the concept, but a self-chilling beverage container developed by a California company was crowned “Can of the Year” Friday at an industry trade show. The award by the International Canning Technology Exhibition in Singapore came a day after Britain urged a ban on the Chill-Can because of fears the refrigerant it uses would contribute to global warming. The can chills its contents by 30 degrees in minutes using hydrofluoroalkane 134a gas. The gas, which is released outside the container, is a hydrofluorocarbon. Scientists say the release of large quantities of the gas into the atmosphere could contribute to global warming.