BAMA encouraged by ‘tremendous’ growth in 2011 aerosol filling figures

29 April 2012


The tenure of new BAMA chief executive Dr John Morris got off to a positive start as the British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association announced annual filling figures showing an overall increase of 9.4% compared to 2010.

The organisation said that nearly 1.4 billion aerosols were filled in the UK in 2011, compared to just under 1.3 billion in 2010, out of a total of about 5 billion across the whole of Europe.

Personal Care advancing

The largest individual category by far remained in Personal Care (which represented 72% of total UK fillings), with Antiperspirant/ Deodorants and Body Sprays at 647.6m cans filled, followed by Shaving Soaps, Lathers and Creams at 199.6m.

A figure of 8.4% year on year growth was particularly impressive, therefore, for the Personal Care sector overall, at 972.8m cans filled. The Suntan & Bronzing category registered a shade under 160% growth – although from a small figure of 0.7m to 1.7m cans, Dr Morris said it “reflects a consumer trend for keeping out of the sun, but wanting to look brown”.

Perfume & Cologne also nearly doubled in size, from 5.1m to 10m cans, while hair products also had solid growth of 9.9%, to 89.8m cans filled.

Household boom

Air fresheners, in the household sector (about 22% of the UK total), were the third largest individual category at 182.4m cans. Household proved even more buoyant for growth, up 15% on 2010 at 305.4m cans.

“It’s hard to know exactly why, but we think there’s been an importation of filling from abroad,” said Dr Morris. “It may show more novelty or innovation among the UK fillers compared to others.”

Air fresheners alone showed 18.2% growth, but hard surface cleaners were up nearly 148%, from 3.4m to 8.5m cans. Air fresheners are advertised heavily, keeping the product in the consumer’s mind, Dr Morris added. There is also a trend for fixed dispensers and small can refills, he said, coming from industrial and institutional users.

Few negatives

In other categories, there were one or two down points in 2011, most significantly among the industrial aerosols, down by -11.3%. This sector could be lagging with the general industrial economy, Dr Morris said, or experiencing migration in trade from the UK to other countries.

At -20% down, insecticides have possibly suffered from some new EU biocides legislation, or similarly through business migrating out of the UK.

Yet despite these drops, the ‘Other’ sector (also including medical, Paints/Lacquers, Vet/Pet and Miscellaneous) still managed a 4.1% overall growth for the year.

“The British aerosol industry has had a tremendous 2011,” said Dr Morris, “and with BAMA’s 50th anniversary, I think it’s pure coincidence, but very fortunate!”

Another factor that Dr Morris highlighted was a discernable trend towards plastic aerosols, showing up in the figure of 1.3% growth (to 17.5m units) in glass and plastics aerosols filled. “It’s not exactly clear where these are,” he said, “but it’s an interesting trend and I think it will continue.

“I think it’s an interesting innovation, but there are still legislative issues concerning plastic in aerosols, which need to be sorted out.”

Key objectives

Dr Morris said that BAMA’s aims going forward would include continuing its support of the ‘School Science’ website in the UK, as well as other educational activities such as the Re-Solv, Solve It and Sacki warning (‘Solvent abuse can kill instantly’) schemes working to counter volatile substance abuse.

Sustainability and recycling remains high on BAMA’s agenda, with its ‘Can Do’ awards for local authorities now in its fourth year. “The value of an empty aerosol can is tremendous,” said Dr Morris. “Putting them into landfill is a terrible thing to do.

“The success of our long-term recycling campaign has helped to persuade over 83% of local authorities to undertake recycling of empty aerosols at the kerbside.” Ten years ago, he adds, this figure was under 10%.

“I see this as a key objective of BAMA, to really keep the pressure on,” Dr Morris said.




Privacy Policy
We have updated our privacy policy. In the latest update it explains what cookies are and how we use them on our site. To learn more about cookies and their benefits, please view our privacy policy. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy unless you have disabled them.