1920-1950
American soldiers used it to fight insect-borne diseases in the Pacific; 50 million were produced during World War II. Soon after the war, aerosol packaging expanded. in 1947, 4.3 million units were produced for civilian use. Production grew steadily and soon crossed the Atlantic to Europe.
1950-1960
Insecticides and hairsprays were the first products to enter the European market in the early 1950s. Air fresheners, deodorants and shaving foams soon , and about 70 million aerosols were produced in Europe during this period.1960-1970
1970-1980
Production shocked again, reaching 2.2 billion units; an increase of 80% in ten years! During this period, interest in aerosols began to grow.In the late 1970s, after the publication of the "Molina/Roland" report on the ozone layer, a wave of environmental problems captured the world's attention. Aerosols were thought to represent the role played by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the thinning of the upper ozone layer, although its contribution to this phenomenon was relatively small.
1980-1990
In the 1980s, the aerosol industry voluntarily switched from CFCs to alternative propellants, and FEA was the first organization to formalize a voluntary environmental agreement with the European Commission (Commission Recommendation 89/349/EEC).Since 1989, aerosols for European consumers (except for a few medical products such as asthma inhalers) have been CFCs-free.
Production increased by 35% during this decade to 3 billion units.
1990-2000
Research and development has focused on propellants, packaging and ingredients to make aerosols high-performance products.
Two-component aerosols offer a new generation of aerosol technology and are beginning to expand rapidly.
Following the use of alternative propellants to CFCs, the aerosol industry has demonstrated through various studies that empty aerosols can be effectively included in the normal household waste packaging stream without causing harm. As a result, post-consumer aerosols began to be successfully recycled around the world.
Aerosol production in Europe proceeded steadily to 4.4 billion units, an increase of 48% in this decade, making Europe the global leader in production.
2000-2010
In 2002, the FEA adopted a code of practice on the use of HFCs. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have no impact on the ozone layer but are still involved in climate change, should only be used in the aerosol industry in applications where there are no other safe, practical, economical or environmentally acceptable alternatives, i.e. only in technical applications with an ignition source or in pharmaceutical applications.Aerosol packaging comes in new shapes, more attractive and ergonomic. Europe remains the world leader in aerosol production with 5 billion units produced. in 2008, almost 12 billion units were produced worldwide.
2010-2020
Compressed gas propellants are more widely used and the aerosol industry is focused on producing more cost effective aerosol containers. While plastic aerosols are further developed in the market, maximum efforts are made to improve new systems, such as self-compression bags.
The Future
Embrace the circular economy through multi-stakeholder dialogue to ensure more efficient recycling of aerosol dispensers.
