Gretchen Schaefer
202.833.7311
ON 20 TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD OZONE DAY, CSPA HAILS INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
U.S. Industry Stopped Using Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Years Before Signing of Montreal Protocol
WASHINGTON, DC (September 14, 2007 ) – The Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) and its Aerosol Products Division is marking the 20 th Anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol by recognizing the critical leadership role the American aerosol industry has played in global environmental protection.
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, signed in 1987, required the phase-out of ozone depleting compounds. One category of those compounds, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), was once extensively used as the propellant for aerosol products. However, in response to the initial scientific research linking CFCs to ozone depletion, first announced in 1974, manufacturers and distributors of consumer aerosol products moved to find suitable propellant alternatives. This phase-out of the use of CFCs in U.S. aerosol products came before government restrictions, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ban on CFCs (1978), and many years before the Montreal Protocol (1987) went into affect.
“Protection of the earth's ozone is everyone's business, including the U.S. aerosol industry,” said Chris topher Cathcart, president of the CSPA. “In fact, for more than thirty years, we have taken a leadership role in the voluntary reduction and outright ban on the use of CFCs in the United States .”
Soon after the dangers of CFCs became apparent, industry took the lead in finding replacement propellants for their aerosol products. As such, most companies had stopped using CFCs in advance of the U.S. EPA's regulatory ban. Even now, many people are surprised to learn that aerosol products are one of the most environmentally-compatible forms of packaging.
“The aerosol story is an outstanding example of industry assuming a leadership role to help protect our planet; it is a position we are proud to maintain even now,” explained Cathcart. “ Today, with the exception of a very few medical products, no aerosol products release gases that could potentially harm the earth's ozone layer. They also help reduce waste through their long product shelf life and minimum spillage. Aerosol products also provide important safety benefits by being tamper-resistant and tamper-evident. In addition, aerosol cans are made of either aluminum or steel and are completely recyclable.
While the Montreal Protocol was a monumental event in environmental protection, the aerosol industry has maintained its dedication to environmental awareness and thrived over the last 20 years as evidenced by the following statistics:
• More than 400 aerosol product-related companies exist nationwide.
• Approximately 3.7 billion aerosol products are produced annually in the U.S.
• More than $12 billion are generated annually in U.S. sales of aerosol products.
• Over 5,300 communities nationwide recycle aerosol cans.
• More than 160,000 automobiles could be produced from the recycled steel of the 3.1 billion steel-container aerosol products sold each year.Last April, the U.S. EPA published Achievements in Stratospheric Ozone Protection Progress Report to highlight the success of the Montreal Protocol on its 20 th year milestone. The agency also will use the anniversary to recognize ozone protection leaders, including those in the aerosol industry, who contributed to the phase-out of CFCs and development of alternatives.
“The industry response to the CFC threat to our ozone is an example of how we can work together on common challenges to develop real time solutions that benefit consumers, industry and the environment all at the same time,” concluded Cathcart.
The Consumer Specialty Products Association is a non-profit national trade association representing approximately 260 companies engaged in the manufacture, formulation, distribution and sale of hundreds of familiar consumer products. It is organized into seven divisions: Aerosol Products, Air Care, Antimicrobial Products, Cleaning Products, Pest Management Products, Industrial and Automotive Specialty Chemicals, and Polishes and Floor Maintenance.
