Pressure Points
What’s next for the Aerosol
Pressurized Products Survey?
In May, the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA)
released its 66th annual Aerosol Pressurized Products Survey.
The survey reports on the U.S. unit production of aerosols,
products and containers. Its goal is to provide a comprehensive
snapshot of the health of the industry, providing relevant information
useful to the marketing and manufacture of finished
aerosol products and their components. The CSPA Aerosol
Products Division Survey Committee works hard each year to
make the survey the most robust possible picture of the aerosol
industry and uses the independent third-party firm, Association
Research, Inc., to administer the survey and collect and aggregate
the data. The
aerosol industry
uses the information
from the survey
while meeting
Over the years, the question has arisen as to whether
the survey could be more than what it has been...
with regulators
and legislators to
emphasize the positive contribution the aerosol products industry
has on the U.S. economy.
Over the years, the question has arisen as to whether the survey
could be more than what’s described above. As the industry
moves forward, so should its survey. Can it tell us more about
the industry than it presently does? Can the survey be modified
to be a vehicle to better showcase the benefits of aerosol
products?
Sustainability has become a key business strategy in today’s
world. We all know the benefits of the aerosol product form.
Aerosols can be designed to fit a wide array of applications and
deliver the right amount when it’s needed while reducing waste
and spillage. Aerosol containers are hermetically sealed and
hygienic, easy to store and use and recyclable.
While most consumers would recycle aerosols, many still do
not realize that aerosols can and should be recycled when fully
evacuated. An even bigger issue is that many municipalities don’t
even know they have the capabilities to recycle empty aerosol
containers. Back in 2012 and 2015, CSPA surveyed its aerosol
members and found significant increases in the marketing of
aerosol recyclability directly on the label. In 2016, CSPA, The
Aluminum Association, the Can Manufacturers Institute and
the Steel Recycling Institute sponsored a study organized by the
Sustainable Packaging Coalition that found that about 70%
NICHOLAS GEORGES
Director, Scientific Affairs, CSPA
of U.S. residents have the opportunity to recycle empty aerosol
containers at the curb or at nearby recycling facilities. The Aerosol
Pressurized Products Survey could incorporate elements of recycling
surveys and report on the industry’s recycling efforts yearly.
Another unfortunate consumer myth is that aerosol products
are not green or sustainable; however, aerosols are recognized by
some third parties as such. For example, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s Safer Choice program has allowed aerosol
products that meet its stringent criteria by using ingredients on
the program’s list display the Safer Choicer label. Aerosol manufacturers
have developed product portfolios that are Greener,
safer and/or sustainable.
We could
use this survey to
report the number
of aerosols recognized
by other programs
and more
fully tell the sustainability story that consumers want to hear.
Harmonization with other surveys around the world is
another area that should be explored. Each section of the
world reports aerosol production; however, outside of total
production, categories and subcategories vary. Even within our
own survey, we report the total North American production
numbers, including Canada and Mexico, but cannot take a
deeper dive because we’re not collecting the same information.
It would benefit the industry greatly to be able to see the trends
around the world in each subcategory so that companies can
prepare for growth.
Plastic aerosol containers are an exciting new option in
the toolbox for manufacturers, formulators and marketers to
use and extend current product portfolios. Plastic containers
potentially open aerosols to new product lines never seen before
because the plastics can handle chemicals that would corrode
metal containers. We’re starting to see plastic aerosols on store
shelves, so the data for these products should start appearing in
our survey.
CSPA would like to know your thoughts on our aerosol
survey and how it can better meet your needs. I’d appreciate any
feedback on the current survey, the topics presented here for
future surveys and if there are other areas we should consider.
Email me at ngeorges@cspa.org. Spray
10 Spray August 2017