Environmental Impacts

Design Master accepts the stewardship of our environment with high regard. Our regulatory department ensures that all Design Master products comply with environmental regulations. We continually update responsible practices in the manufacturing, packaging and distribution of our products to produce less waste and be more energy efficient. We search for balance to bring consumers effective products that are economically available and environmentally sound.

Ozone Responsibility

Design Master aerosols do not use CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) propellants which can deplete the earth's ozone layer. In 1978 CFC use in aerosol propellants was banned in the United States for most products. Design Master removed CFCs in all products eight years prior to its ban.

All Design Master sprays are in compliance with the California Clean Air Act for Aerosol Coatings and the California Low Emissions and Reactivity Rule, the most stringent air quality regulations in the states.

Aerosol products contribute very little to smog. Smog is formed when VOCs (volatile organic compounds) react with sunlight and nitrogen oxides. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contributes the major manmade source of VOCs to vehicle emissions, combustion and industrial emissions. Consumer products are estimated to account for only 5% of VOCs from manmade sources, with the amount coming from aerosols accounting for only a fraction of that amount. Aerosol propellant emissions also differ from automobile emissions in that aerosol hydrocarbon propellants are chemically more stable than hydrocarbon fuels and therefore have a very low order of reactivity. Nonetheless, Design Master seeks to reduce the amount of VOCs in products.

For more information regarding Aerosols, CFCs and VOCs visit:

• www.nocfcs.org/environment/home.htm
• www.waib.org/info.html

Responsibly Convenient

Aerosol spray colors offer the consumer a product delivery form that is environmentally sound and a cost effective way to do small painting jobs. Every DESIGN MASTER spray is hermetically sealed and will last for years. The product will not leak, spill, spoil or evaporate. Aerosol sprays are pre-mixed for ease and consistent color and deliver only as much product as wanted or needed. DESIGN MASTER sprays are ready in an instant… just shake and spray.

Design Master sprays are packaged in steel cans made from more than 25% post consumer recycled steel. The best way to dispose of an empty aerosol container is to recycle it. Steel is malleable and can continually be recycled. The benefits to recycling include reducing the volume of aerosol can waste in landfills and conserving energy and natural resources to produce new steel.

More than 5,300 municipal locations nationwide include empty aerosols for recycling as part of their steel can mix in both household residential and curbside buy-back and drop-off programs. Recycling instructions for Design Master sprays are simple: use them up until the cans are empty, then recycle them along with other containers. For more information on steel recycling, visit: www.recycle-steel.org

Responsible Use

Design Master products are non-toxic when dry. As with any tool, please use Design Master sprays with care and respect. Read and follow all directions and cautions on each Design Master product.