Facts vs. Fiction: Why Aerosol Products are a Smart Choice
Aerosol products, including bag-on-valve applications, are a growing staple throughout many retail industries.
From healthcare to beauty to food, many brands use aerosol technology to deliver quality products.
While there are many benefits to aerosol products, there are still misconceptions about how they work and how they affect the environment.
We’ve collected the most common areas of confusion to reveal the truth about aerosols:
Fiction: Aerosol cans can’t be recycled.
Fact: Aerosol cans are recyclable, just like many other empty steel containers. The Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) which is the premier trade association for consumer home products reports 70% of Americans have access to recycling options for empty aerosol containers.
The same study reports “Many consumers aren’t sure whether their empty aerosol containers can be recycled,” said D. Douglas Fratz, CSPA Aerosol Products Division Staff Executive. “The results of this study demonstrate that most recycling programs are ready, willing and able to recycle empty aerosols, and we will continue working with them to let people know how to do that.”
The EPA also recommends all aerosol containers be properly recycled once they are emptied.
Fiction: Aerosol products are bad for the environment.
Fact: Aerosol makers stopped using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) when scientists found a possible connection between these chemicals and the decay ozone layer. The U.S. prohibited the use of CFCs in 1978.
Although there is a growing awareness for environmentally sustainability, misinformation still exists concerning how aerosol products play a part. Despite the banning of CFCs in the late 70s, a recent survey showed 7 out of 10 thought the CFCs were still used in the products.
Modern aerosol products do not harm the environment. In fact, specific technologies like bag on valve only use regular oxygen or nitrogen. Many aerosol cans are made with recycled materials, and the empty cans are easily recyclable.
Fiction: Aerosol cans aren’t useful or practical.
Fact: Aerosol products provide a wide range of household and commercial uses. Did you know aerosol products gained massive popularity during World War II? Robert H. Abplanalp improved the old design for aerosol cans by switching out the inconsistent, rusty metal valves for plastic valves. These new valves were easily mass produced and cheaper. The U.S military could utilize this more dependable technology for soldiers to carry vital mosquito spray.
Since then, aerosol products have evolved to meet a range of consumer needs. Aerosol cans are hermetically sealed—meaning they are airtight—so they cannot leak or spill. Aerosol products are also tamper-resistant which is especially beneficial in households with children or pets.
Aerosol products are a model of cost efficiency. Aerosol containers are made to deliver the right amount of product without waste. The airtight seal allows for greater shelf life meaning the consumer can enjoy the product for longer.
The application areas for aerosols are varied to meet the needs of the increasingly selective consumer. The most popular categories for aerosols include:
Cosmetics and beauty – Aerosol products for cosmetics include deodorants, lotions, shaving gels, and self tanning sprays.
Food – Less waste with longer shelf life is perfect for cooking oils, cheeses, and flavor sprays.
Medical – Since aerosol products are extremely hygienic, pharmaceutical companies utilize this packaging for eye wash sprays, emollient sprays, nasal sprays, and burn gels.
