Expanding CAPCO Educational Messages through New Channels

As part of CAPCO’s mission to provide accurate information about aerosol products, one of its key target audiences is teachers.  In addition to attending the National Science Teachers Association annual conference each year where CAPCO reaches thousands of teachers with its messaging about recycling aerosol product containers, the technology used in aerosols and correcting any dated misconceptions about aerosol products and the environment, CAPCO also supports other groups as well.

Women in Science:

The Oklahoma Women in Science Conference is free to all participants and features many speakers
and hands on activities for approximately 500 girls and their 90 teachers to encourage them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).   Research shows (link to source) only 15% of incoming coming college freshmen women intend to pursue a major in STEM as compared to 30% of men. Keeping Math & Science at the forefront for all students is important to maintain a high level of product innovation in the aerosol products industry as well as important for our workforce as a whole to stay at the leading edge of innovation.


 

Percentage of Employed STEM Professionals Who Are Women, Selected Professions, 2008

Women are clearly a minority in STEM focused studies and careers and CAPCO was pleased to support the Oklahoma Women in Science Conference by sending full-color flyers highlighting all of its web-based educational resources, a hand-out on Recycling Facts and was also listed on the conference’s wiki space.  Dr. Theresa Cullen, Professor of Instructional Psychology and Technology at University of Oklahoma and key organizer for the event, finds value in giving the students a broad perspective on issues and strives to include materials both from regulatory bodies as well as from industry.

Chilean Chamber of Aerosol Products:

The Chilean Chamber of Aerosol Products has begun an outreach program to help educate Chilean students about aerosol product technology, recycling aerosol cans and aerosols and the environment.  As part of their outreach efforts, they are having the “Another Amazing Aerosol Adventure”  educational video professionally translated into Spanish.  This will be a great opportunity not only for the Chilean Chamber of Aerosol Products to reach out in Chile, but also for CAPCO to reach more of the Spanish speaking market in the U.S. and other Spanish speaking countries.

Upcoming NSTA Science Fair

CAPCO is preparing to attend the annual National Science Teacher’s Association conference in San Francisco from March 10-13th. Last year’s conference had over 15,000 registrants and representatives for the CAPCO booth spoke with over 1000 attendees.

The theme of this year’s conference is: “Celebrating the Joy of Science: Imagine and Create.” CAPCO will be communicating three key messages to teachers at the conference:

-Aerosol Product Technology

-Aerosols and the Environment

-Aerosol Cans are Recyclable

CAPCO has refreshed the look and feel of its teacher’s kit and will be promoting it at this year’s conference. The kit can now be downloaded in sections and its contents are clearly listed on our website.

In addition, CAPCO is partnering with its long-time supporter the Steel Recycling Institute to communicate aerosol product benefits and to remind teachers and consumers that empty consumer aerosol cans are recyclable! We have created a co-sponsored flyer about recycling facts and tips, which we’ll distribute at the booth.

We have a great group of industry experts who have volunteered to work at the booth and share their knowledge about aerosol technology and this unique packaging form. We are looking forward to a successful conference and one more opportunity to communicate the benefits and facts about aerosol products.

Consumer Aerosol Products Receive Unwarranted Blame for Global Warming

A recent Yale University study shows that many Americans falsely believe that aerosol spray products contribute to climate change. The study has received a great deal of media response because it shows that more than half of Americans flunk “Climate 101.” One of the questions on the quiz given to over 2000 participants showed that over two thirds of those surveyed falsely believe that aerosol spray products are a significant contributor to global warming, with some concluding that banning spray cans or "stopping rockets from punching holes in the ozone layer" are effective solutions for climate change. The largest contributor to global warming is increased CO2 from carbon emissions.

One of the major causes for large scale confusion about global warming and climate change are articles and blog entries that are not well-researched, draw incorrect conclusions about data that is unrelated to their claim, and often times result in being very misleading. A recent blog entry on a Discovery Communications blog claims that aerosol spray products are making significant contributions to global warming, but references an article that does not support that claim. The author confused consumer aerosol spray products with “aerosols (sulfates and black carbon)” which are particles in the air that come from burning coal, diesel and biodiesel, not from aerosol spray products. That same author urges users not to use the www.aerosolproducts.org site as a resource because it is “sponsored by industry.” With so much misinformation out there about aerosol products and the environment, there is a need for information from the industry experts. It is in the best interest of the aerosol industry to give consumers accurate information about the technology behind the product form, share proper usage and disposal/recycling information, and correct misinformation about aerosols and environment, when necessary.

In a time when many consumers are striving to “green” many aspects of their lives, it is easy to see how difficult it is to decipher which information sources are factual and credible. As demonstrated from the blog entry above, consumer aerosol products receive an undeserving amount of blame in relation to actual impact that they have on the environment these days. Therefore, CAPCO will continue in its efforts reach more consumers with facts from industry experts.

SATA Conference Presents Opportunities for Aerosol Industry Professionals

The Southern Aerosols Technical Association (SATA) held its 30^th annual conference in Hilton Head, SC from September 30^th through October 3^rd, 2010. The conference offered many opportunities for aerosol industry professionals to stay abreast of industry innovations, regulatory changes, and consumer trends. SATA provides a great forum to network and share ideas, and speakers offered up best practices, case studies, new product formats and innovations, as well as updates on legislation and other regulatory issues.

Each year a company or an individual receives the Distinguished Service Award for their considerable contributions to SATA and the aerosol industry. This year’s recipient was Radiator Specialty Company.

SATA is a long-time supporter of CAPCO, and it was impressive to see how many industry stakeholders were well-engaged and supportive of CAPCO’s mission to provide facts and educational content about aerosol products to teachers, consumers and media. CAPCO expresses its appreciation to the support it receives annually from SATA and also the opportunity to present to attendees all of the work we are doing on behalf of the aerosol industry.