‘Compressed’ deodorant cans launched by Unilever
Unilever, the UK’s largest deodorant manufacturer, has halved the size of aerosol cans used for some of its leading brands.
From today (4 February), consumers will start to see smaller, ‘compressed’ cans for female deodorants on supermarkets shelves around the country. The new cans – from the Sure, Dove and Vaseline brands – last the same length of time as previous cans while using only 50% of the propellant, making them half the size (ml).
As a result, switching to the new can will have environmental benefits, including reducing the overall carbon footprint of the product by an average of 25% per can.
Across the three brands, the new-look cans use on average 25% less aluminium and, due to the smaller size, 53% more cans fit onto a pallet. This results in a significant reduction in the greenhouse gas associated with having 35% fewer lorries on the road transporting the products.
Amanda Sourry, chairman of Unilever UK & Ireland, said: “Unilever is becoming a leader in sustainability and we believe that this new innovation represents a genuine shift change in the way aerosol deodorants can be manufactured. The reduced environmental impact of providing consumers with a smaller can will take us another step closer to realising our global ambition of doubling the size of our business while reducing our environmental impact.”
In a product category where 80% of UK and Ireland consumers prefer aerosols to roll on or stick deodorants, and some 19 million cans of female aerosol deodorant are used per year in the UK, this means an immediate 24 fewer tonnes of aluminium and a resultant 283 tonnes reduction in carbon used every year for Unilever brands alone.
Richard Swannell, director of design and waste prevention at WRAP, added: “The new aerosols represent a step change in the aerosol category and WRAP applauds Unilever’s leadership role in evolving the format. Through the Courtauld Commitment we have encouraged packaging innovation and these new aerosols deliver both impressive packaging and transport savings. We hope the environmental benefits, as well as the convenient small size, are appreciated by the consumer. Unilever’s prominent support for the recycling of aerosols at the end of their life is also demonstrated through supporting initiatives such as Metal Matters.”
Unilever also works with Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (ALUPRO) and the British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA) to encourage local authorities to accept empty aerosols in kerbside collections and recycling can banks. The drive has been highly successful and now 86% of local authorities collect aerosols for recycling in this way.
