Current Issue - Industry News

The Procter & Gamble Co. announced the launch of the Supplier Environmental Sustainability Scorecard and rating process to measure and improve the environmental performance of its key suppliers. The new scorecard will assess P&G suppliers' environmental footprint and encourage continued improvement by measuring energy use, water use, waste disposal and greenhouse gas emissions on a year-to-year basis. It is hoped that this breakthrough work will lay the foundation for an industry standard and the scorecard will be "open code" for use by any organization to help promote a working discussion and determine common supply chain evaluation processes across all industries. The scorecard relies on accepted worldwide measurement standards and sound science, including protocols from the World Resources Institute, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Carbon Disclosure Project, so as to minimize redundant efforts and build on existing best practices. P&G's goal in deploying the scorecard is to enhance supply chain collaboration, measure and improve key environmental sustainability indicators, and encourage the sharing of ideas and capabilities to deliver more sustainable products and services for its consumers.

Additionally, P&G is getting into online retailing with an "eStore" site offering approximately 2,000 items from across its consumer products portfolio. The company calls the store a learning laboratory that will provide insights into what marketing, presentations and promotions work best to attract online shoppers. Initial pricing is comparable to P&G items at other retailers, but the site also offers digital coupons and $5 flat-rate shipping.

The family-owned Full-Fill Industries, Henning, IL, a food-only aerosol manufacturing company, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Situated in the former Henning High School, the President, David Clapp, runs it with his brothers, Steven and Jonathon. Their mother, Barbara Clapp, works in accounting. Their father, Henry Clapp, began working in the Danville laboratory of the Continental Filling Co. (later Aerosol Techniques Inc.) in 1952. Eventually, he was that plant's VP and GM. In 1982, he started Clapp Industries Corp., which later became Creative Products Inc., Rossville, IL. When Creative Products was sold to ConAgra in 1997, the Clapp family decided to stay in aerosols. There were just four employees in the beginning, and they started running the first line on Thanksgiving weekend, 2000. Now, there are more than 100 Full-Fill employees. A new website, www.full-fill.com, and Facebook page are recent additions to the company.

Mergers & Acquisitions
Avon Products, Inc. announced its acquisition of Liz Earle Beauty Co. Limited, a privately-held brand of naturally active skincare products sold primarily through direct-to-consumer channels. The UK brand will become part of Avon's global anti-aging skincare portfolio. Avon stated that Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare will continue to be managed independently as a stand-alone brand under the leadership of co-founders Liz Earle and Kim Buckland, and will maintain its headquarters in Ryde, Isle of Wight, UK. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Arch Chemicals, Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Industrial Coatings business to The Sherwin-Williams Co. for approximately 40 million euros ($54 million) in cash. The transaction was targeted to close on March 31, 2010 and is subject to customary closing conditions. The agreement covers operations located in Italy, UK, Spain, North America and Singapore.

Berlin Packaging, a supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures, announced it has completed its acquisition of All-Pak, Inc., a Pittsburgh, PA-based packaging supplier. The combined company has over 40 sales and warehouse locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Berlin Packaging is headquartered in Chicago, and the All-Pak division will maintain a significant operational presence at all of its geographical locations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making it easier to find chemical information online. Its new database, called ToxRefDB, allows scientists and the interested public to search and download thousands of toxicity testing results on hundreds of chemicals. ToxRefDB captures 30 years and $2 billion of testing results and provides detailed chemical toxicity data in an accessible format. It is a part of ACToR (Aggregated Computational Toxicology Resource), an online data warehouse that collects data from about 500 public sources on tens of thousands of environmentally relevant chemicals. Those interested in chemical toxicity can query a specific chemical and find all available public hazard, exposure and risk-assessment data, as well as previously unpublished studies related to cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity. Visit http://actor.epa.gov/ toxrefdb for more information.

According to the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), a new report alleging that a number of popular, brand-name perfumes contain "secret" ingredients that could cause harm to consumers grossly misrepresents the science on fragrance ingredients and presents a distorted picture of how they are regulated and labeled. The report, titled Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrance and released by the U.S.-based Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group, and the Canadianbased Environmental Defence, does a disservice to consumers looking for full and accurate information and trustworthy advice about the products they purchase, said John Bailey, Chief Scientist, PCPC.

"The validity of the report is seriously undermined by its failure to include quantitative measurements of the 'secret' ingredients it purported to find," Bailey said. "Such measurements are a fundamental element of toxicological risk assessments. Without them, it is impossible to make valid judgments about potential risks. The report also erroneously alleges that many of the materials 'revealed' in their testing have not been assessed for safety. In fact, most of the ingredients have been the subject of a safety assessment by one or more authoritative bodies."

To read bailey's complete statement, visit www.ctfa.org.

Elizabeth Arden, Inc. has entered into an exclusive longterm global licensing agreement with kate spade new york for the manufacture, distribution and marketing of kate spade new york fragrances. A debut fragrance is planned to launch in the Fall of 2010. Additionally, Elizabeth Arden and John Varvatos Apparel Corp. announced that they have entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement for the development, marketing and distribution of John Varvatos men's and women's fragrances. The previous licensee for John Varvatos fragrances and skincare was Shiseido Americas Corp.

Makers of foaming hand sanitizers and soaps are recalibrating marketplace needs for the Fall/Winter 2010/2011 flu season after the dramatic spike in demand linked to the 2009 H1N1, or "swine flu," experience, according to Rexam, supplier of one-touch, mechanical foam dispensing solutions.

"International concerns of the H1N1 virus caught some in the industry by surprise," said Casper Kleiman, Product Manager-Foam, Rexam Personal Care. "Already this year, we hear of customers planning ahead and fine-tuning their production needs well in advance of the 2010-11 flu season." According to published reports by the World Health Organization (WHO), annual flu epidemics result in as many as five million cases of severe illness and as many as 500,000 deaths worldwide.

The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) has announced plans to realign and rebrand its network of associations in order to achieve greater efficiencies and industry responsiveness. IFRA comprises national and regional associations, whose members include fragrance ingredient and compound manufacturers and suppliers, and aims to "promote the safe enjoyment of fragrance worldwide." Upon completion of the reorganization process, there will be four regional bodies under the global IFRA brand, covering North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, which will manage national and regional issues.

O.Berk Co., supplier and distributor of glass and plastic containers, closures, sprayers and pumps, has announced that 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the company. O.Berk was established in Newark, NJ, in 1910, by its namesake, Osias Berk. In 1925, the company was purchased by Isaac Goldstein, great grandfather of O.Berk's current Chairman and CEO, Marc Gaelen. A new corporate visual identity is planned as part of the anniversary celebration.

---

International News

Crown Aerosols Europe, a business unit of Crown Holdings, Inc., has installed a new four-color printing line at its plant in Deurne, Belgium. The addition is part of Crown's initiative to standardize print operations across all European aerosols plants in order to offer a high level of print quality to customers throughout the region. The line replaces Crown's existing two-color printers and streamlines the decorating process, as it lays down four-colors in a single pass instead of going through two separate double-deck machines. This simplification offers more flexibility for customers to implement marketing and promotional campaigns by freeing up additional plant capacity for new projects. The new printing line also supports Crown's sustainability goals; it uses UV inks and coatings instead of conventional products that must be cured in a gas oven, leading to a reduction in energy use and environmental impact.

The German manufacturers of aluminum aerosol cans enjoyed considerably improved demand in the first four months of 2010, according to Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie e.V. (GDA). Orders received showed marked improvements with double-digit growth year-on-year. Aluminum aerosol cans were even able to return to 2008 levels, which was a successful year. Following the economic crisis of 2009, utilization of production capacities is once again "good to very good." Delivery times for aluminum aerosol cans are 7-10 weeks. This improved volume development is being overshadowed, however, by cost increases for raw materials and consumables that are considerable in some cases. Between April 2009 and April 2010, the price of aluminum rose by 60%. The increased raw-material prices have led to considerable price increases for transport services and in the processing industry. Transport contractors and the manufacturers of lacquers, printing inks, closures and cardboard products have passed on their price increases to aluminum aerosol can manufacturers.

Mexican paint manufacturer Comex has introduced a water-based aerosol foam to be used by referees to mark the site of the foul on the field. The foam is biodegradable and does not affect the grass. It is available in white and red colors. FIFA (International Football Federation) has shown its support for this new evolution in one of the world's most popular sports.

The Latin American Congress on Controversies to Consensus in Diabetes, Obesity & Hypertension (CODHy), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in March, has applauded the presentation of Oral-lyn buccal insulin spray product from Generex to Latin America. It is believed to be as effective as regular insulin for any person suffering from Type-1 diabetes.

The former ColepCCL aerosol plant in Scunthorpe, UK is up for sale after its final 150 workers were made redundant. The company has confirmed all manufacturing operations have been relocated to sites in Portugal, Poland and Germany. The company's Marketing & Innovation Director Grant Coupland said production at the plant ceased in February and only around a dozen jobs had been saved, with the present sales and marketing staff relocating to rented premises in Gainsborough, UK.

Origins Natural Resources Inc. and The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. announced the launch of the Origins brand in mainland China, at the Parkson Department Store in Shanghai. The launch was commemorated by a symbolic tree planting near the Origins counter inside the store. According to the company, China is one of Estee Lauder's fastest growing markets and the brand expected to open four more doors in Shanghai and Beijing by the end of June.

Fragrance and flavor business Firmenich announced the opening of its new affiliate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which aims to strengthen the company's presence in the Gulf Region. The new office and laboratory facilities are located in the Dubai Biotechnology & Research Park (DuBiotech), one of the Middle East's major science and business parks.

Hampshire, UK residents can now mix aerosols in with newspapers, magazines, mixed paper, cardboard, food and drink cans and plastic bottles when recycling. According to Locksheathpeople.com, the UK uses approximately 600 million aerosols per year, or roughly 10 per person. Thanks to the county's recycling efforts and the three Energy Recovery Facilities (ERFs), Hampshire sends just 10% of its household waste to a landfill. There is now only one landfill site open in Hampshire for disposing of household waste, and this is anticipated to be full within 5-10 years.