Pressure Points
A look inside the methodology
of the HCPA Aerosol Pressurized
Products Survey
I n May, the Household & Commercial Products Association
(HCPA) published its 69th annual Aerosol Pressurized Products
Survey. The survey reports on the unit production of aerosol
products, valves and containers within the U.S. Its purpose is to
provide a comprehensive snapshot of the aerosol industry, while
providing relevant information on the size and trends of aerosol
products and component production across the country. Companies
rely on the results of this survey to gauge their overall
growth in comparison to the industry and/or identify potential
opportunities within product categories. Companies can also
use this information to reassess their sales strategy, production
planning and future investments. As a whole, the industry
can use the report to communicate with legislators, regulators
and other key stakeholders about the economic impact of the
aerosol industry.
Every year, U.S. manufacturers of aerosol products, containers
and valves are asked to report their production data, specifically
all units at the product category level, including Insect
Sprays, Paints and Finishes, Household Products, Personal Care
Products, Animal Products, Automotive/Lubricant/Industrial
Products, Food Products and Miscellaneous. Aerosol fillers are
also asked to report the number of filled unit products that
they exported, the number of containers and valves that they
imported, the total number of bag-on-valve (BOV) aerosols that
they filled and the percentage of aerosol products that were
contract-filled for another company.
This year’s survey featured a streamlined form for aerosol
manufacturers to complete. This decision was voted on by the
HCPA Aerosol Products Division survey committee to encourage
participation.
HCPA contracts a third-party survey firm, Association
Research, Inc. (ARI), to administer the survey and collect the
results. The survey committee, which is made up of volunteers
from valve, container and propellant companies, contacts aerosol
manufacturers from across the U.S. to participate. Following
the deadline for participation, ARI shares a one-time report of
aggregate data, mined from the survey results, with the survey
committee. Using a third-party survey firm ensures that participant
information remains confidential and not shared with
anyone at HCPA, on the survey committee or in the industry.
For companies that do not respond to the survey, the survey
committee meets with ARI to estimate the remaining production
for each product category. ARI provides the aggregate totals
from the companies that participated in the survey and identifies
the non-responding companies and the product categories
they manufacture. However, to protect confidentiality, if a
product category has too few respondents or a single manufacturer
makes up the majority of the market, ARI withholds that
aggregate number from the survey committee.
The survey committee then estimates the product category
market of the non-respondents by utilizing their sales data and
market knowledge. For most product categories, the estimation
is based on valve sales. In the cases that valve sales cannot
be used to estimate the non-respondents, container sales data
is used. These estimates are provided directly to ARI to help
ensure confidentiality. No individual company, whether a valve
or container supplier, or an aerosol product filler, is ever singled
out or specifically discussed—protecting confidentiality is of the
utmost importance to this survey.
Participation in the survey makes it easier to estimate the
remaining totals since less estimation is needed to generate
the final results of the survey. When fewer companies
participate, it weakens the industry’s ability to understand
year-over-year growth in specific product categories and makes
it more challenging for companies to identify potential market
opportunities.
I want to thank everyone who participated in this year’s survey,
especially in light of the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic
has had, not only on companies, but also on all of our
personal lives. The response rate increased year-over-year, and I
know that wasn’t easy for many, considering the challenges that
everyone is facing. Your participation makes the report more
robust and accurate and requires less estimation to account for
missing data. For those of you who intended to participate, but
just weren’t able, I also want to thank you for your support and
hope that you’ll be able to participate next year.
Participation in next year’s survey is critical. While it is
important every year to help better understand the landscape
of the aerosol industry, given the chaos of the COVID-19
pandemic and the economic uncertainty that it appears to have
unleashed, everyone’s participation is needed so the report can
remain accurate.
Although HCPA sponsors and finances the survey, this is
truly an industry report that is meant to benefit the entire aerosol
industry. If you have any questions about the survey or the
report, please contact me at ngeorges@thehcpa.org. Spray
10 Spray June 2020
NICHOLAS GEORGES
HCPA VP of Scientific
& International Affairs
ngeorges@thehcpa.org
This year’s survey featured a
streamlined form for aerosol manufacturers
to complete... I want to thank everyone
who participated, especially in light of the
impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has
had, not only on companies, but also
on all of our personal lives...