First Sun-Activated, Color Changing Beer Can Hits Shelves

‘Summer Certified’ cans exclusive to the Canadian market, feature six limited edition designs that come to life when exposed to sunlight. (CNW Group/Molson Coors Canada)

Molson Coors Canada has developed a sun-activated, color changing beer can released exclusively in Canada and only available for the summer months. The "Coors Light Summer Certified" cans are available in six designs, printed with a photochromic ink that is "nearly invisible until the cans are exposed to UV rays," according to a press release.

When the cans are exposed to sunlight they reveal a variety of colors, however, as the press release makes very clear, it does not indicate that the beer is getting warmer. In fact, the cans also feature the thermochromic ink that Coors Light has used for close to a decade to let the consumer know when the beer is "Rocky Mountain Cold" — when the mountains on the packaging go from white to blue.

The press release explains that the two types of color changing ink are used "harmoniously to indicate that the beer is both cold and summer certified."

Related story: Packaging Trend: Design for Social Media Sharing

Photochromic inks, hydrochromic UV inks (like those used on this Gremlins vinyl rerelease) and thermochromic inks have been gaining in popularity as a way to excite consumers. Although color changing inks aren't a brand new concept, it's refreshing to see brands experimenting with the technology to make packaging a little more exciting.

I'm sure that there will be plenty of Coors Light fans using social media to share the color changing cans. It's only been a few days, and there are already a bevy of posts on Instagram featuring the newly designed cans.

Images via Instagram

Packaging being shared on social media for the win! Marketers and package printers/designers definitely should be taking a page out of Molson Coors book.