Written on: June 1, 2026 by SPRAY
The 4th Aerosol Summit returned to Nashville, TN, in March at a new venue—the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. The two-day event saw record-breaking attendance of 266 individuals representing 100 companies, agencies or associations. It was packed with 15 informative presentations and two industry roundtables, punctuated with a private concert by Wild Bill & The Bruisers at Chief’s on Broadway.
John Blum of John J. Blum Consultancy presented on the latest National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) results. Review of the NEISS database shows that aerosol consumer products have a low injury incident rate and compare favorably with other commonly considered safe consumer products. The top three reasons associated with injury visits to the Emergency Dept. are: 1) Spray on Self/in Eye; 2) Inhalation/Huffing; and 3) Fire and/or Rupture when Burning Garbage. Industry’s collective challenge is to continue innovating designs and formulations to further improve the safety performance of aerosol products. For example, actuator/button/cap design to further reduce instances of inadvertent spray on self/in eye; formulations or additives to further deter huffing; and over-pressurized release mechanisms (in the valve or can) to minimize ruptures during garbage burns or overheating.
Jonathan Gawtrey, Product Innovation, L’Oréal, presented Aerosols in Cosmetics: Challenges & Innovation. He suggested a deployment of concentrated and compressed aerosol technologies that offered smaller products and longer use, as well as use fewer reactive ingredients at lower doses to reduce emissions. Other suggestions included the extended use of Greener chemistry and renewable ingredients; refillable and reusable aerosol technologies; and new packaging experiences, such as novel diffusion systems and transparent plastic cans.
David Burks, President & CEO of Diversified CPC Intl., presented on the Consumer Products Industry Survey, engaging the audience in the question of whether it was worth bringing this survey back after a hiatus of several years. Survey questionnaires are kept confidential and data is sent to a private, outside company to compile, said Burks. Benefits of a survey include the need to judge the overall aerosol industry; it shows industry trends; and it acts as a tool for regulators, legislators and investors, as it assists regulators to gauge impacts of regulations and provides a foundation for investors. It also stops other groups from guessing. The audience was responsive.
Doug Raymond, Raymond Regulatory Resources, presented Not Just Paperwork: The High Stakes World of Regulatory Affairs. Regulatory issues affect a firm’s products more than customers, retailers and government agencies do. Volatile organic compound (VOC) regulation has changed aerosol products the most in the last 30 years and, at last, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will use Reactivity in its next aerosol rulemaking. Companies should be prepared to meet with CARB through 2027 on their own or in an industry meeting (preferably both). There are benefits to working with CARB, such as the ability to continue to sell product and change how a product is regulated. If you are not working with CARB, your competitor will be.
Kevin Garrison, Fineline Technologies, presented on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID matters for aerosol manufacturers because of increasing mandates from major retailers. The technology positions aerosol products for automated supply chains and helps ensure inventory accuracy. It offers real-time visibility across production, warehousing and distribution and helps reduce manual errors and shrink. RFID can scan hundreds of units instantly for faster receiving, shipping and supply chain traceability. RFID is quickly becoming required for doing business and manufacturers should adopt it now to stay ahead in automation, reusable packaging and supply chain demands.
Patricia Olsem, Division President, Americas, and Meghan Lieb, VP, Global Research & Development, WD-40 Co., presented Why Invest in Aerosol. The pace of change is moving faster than traditional ways of operating and customers are more demanding on performance, availability and value. Channels are fragmenting and regulations and expectations around sustainability are quickly evolving. At the same time, volatility has become the norm as input costs fluctuate, supply chains remain pressured and market conditions shift quickly—sometimes overnight. The real question is whether Industry is adapting fast enough to keep up. Clarity and availability matter; if the product isn’t there—physically or digitally—you don’t win. Executional excellence is critical and trust carries the weight. Fewer, bigger bets are winning over broad, fragmented portfolios and end users—whether DIYers or professionals—come back to products that consistently deliver.
SATA President Jessica Cadena (ITW Contamination Control-Electronics) gave an update on the Southern Aerosol Technical Association.
Nolan Heatley, President, Seymour of Sycamore, Inc. and the fourth generation with the firm, presented Aerosols: A Perspective from Private Ownership.
Roxanne Sharif, Director of Sustainability at the Can Manufacturing Institute (CMI), gave a comprehensive overview of tariffs on aluminum and steel cans; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Aerosol Recycling Initiative (ARI).
EAA President Dennis Smith (OX Solutions LLC/Tubex) spoke on the dissolution of the Eastern Aerosol Association after 30 years.
Sherea Lizaso presented on Solstice Advanced Materials, the Advanced Materials business of Honeywell, which completed its spin-off in Q4 2025.
