sepa:spray

Traditional aluminium aerosol cans are disposable products with a short lifespan. Their production is complex, resource-intensive, and requires a significant amount of energy. Despite this effort, most aerosol cans are discarded after a single use, contributing to substantial resource waste. The sepa:spray concept introduces a new approach to extending the lifespan of aerosol cans, thereby significantly reducing resource consumption. A key element of this concept is the separation of propellant and product. In standard aerosol cans, both components are contained within a single unit. In contrast, sepa:spray separates the product from the propellant. Since consumers typically use only one aerosol can at a time, a single modular propellant cartridge is sufficient. This cartridge is attached to the respective product before use, ensuring that one propellant cartridge can be used for multiple products. This has the added benefit of significantly reducing the size of individual product containers, saving material, space, and logistics costs. To meet individual consumer needs, the product containers are available in 30ml, 60ml, and 90ml sizes. Another crucial aspect is the choice of propellant. Instead of using butane or propane, which are derived from fossil fuels, sepa:spray relies on compressed air. This eliminates dependence on the petrochemical industry, avoiding its support while using a propellant that is freely available worldwide. To extend the lifecycle of aerosol cans, the system is integrated with refill stations in retail stores. Consumers can conveniently refill empty cans with their desired product.

A built-in barcode scanner at the refill station records essential information, such as the manufacturing date of the aerosol can and the number of previous refills. This ensures that the quality and safety of the cans remain intact. After a certain number of refills or a defined period, the can is withdrawn from circulation and no longer refilled. However, this does not mean that used cans are discarded as waste. To maximize material reuse, sepa:spray is incorporated into a deposit system, inspired by the existing deposit scheme for beverage containers. This ensures that decommissioned cans are returned to an aluminium recycling company, which then supplies the sepa:spray manufacturer with recycled material. By leveraging existing expertise from aerosol can manufacturers that already use 100% post-consumer aluminium, this system efficiently utilizes aluminium’s excellent recyclability. Through this closed-loop system, sepa:spray actively contributes to minimizing resource consumption, reducing waste, and providing a sustainable alternative to traditional aerosol cans.sepa:spray appeals to an environmentally conscious and modern target audience that is open to innovative product concepts. However, the system is not only designed for end consumers, but also for businesses seeking sustainable solutions for everyday products.