Environment
By your nature, creative individuals find new uses and second lives for objects all around us. The importance of living green is a part of your everyday ethos. And as such, you have questions about the products and packages you buy, including Design Master Sprays and aerosol products. Peak performance plus environmental stewardship is our commitment to you. Here are some facts you may not know about that can assist in making your conscious purchases.
MIST : UNDERSTOOD
The perception of aerosol products is often clouded by dated information and misconceptions. Contrary to general assumption, aerosol products are recyclable and it’s free to do so as well. Aerosol products also do not contain harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and haven’t since in the ’70s.
SAFE AND SOUND
Design Master is proud to have removed CFCs in all our products eight years prior to their ban in 1978. You won’t see the words “no CFCs” on our label due to FTC guidelines on greenwashing.
Our sprays are packaged in steel cans made from more than 25% post-consumer recycled steel and are recyclable when empty. 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. Plus, every can is hermetically sealed, will last for years and will not leak, spill, spoil or evaporate.
We offer a comprehensive list of safe handling procedures for responsible use and disposal, as well as, clear directions for use on every label. Our sprays coatings are non-toxic when dry.
COMPREHENSIVE COMPLIANCE
Design Master sprays are in compliance with the California Regulation for Reducing Ozone formed from Aerosol Coating Product Emissions and the National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings, the most stringent air quality regulations in the United States.
Design Master’s regulatory department ensures that all products comply with environmental regulations, routinely updating responsible practices in the manufacturing, packaging and distribution of our products to produce less waste and more efficiency.
Design Master’s head of formulations has served on many aerosol industry committees regarding regulatory compliance for many years. He knows formulae and labeling well.
TESTING AND TRANSPARENCY
All aerosol coatings must be labeled in compliance with the ASTM D 4236 standard. It is required. Design Master labels were in compliance with this standard 6 years before the regulation was effective. Design Master continues to provide you with well-tested, compliant products.
World renowned Duke University performs exhaustive third party testing of every Design Master product and label. We respect what is required for packaging aerosol coatings. You can buy and use Design Master with that knowledge. Read our labels. We invested heavily to make them right.
Design Master has voluntarily enrolled in and submitted all our formulae for even more extensive testing by Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). We earned the right to place the ACMI CL logo on our products.
Safety Data Sheets, SDS (formerly MSDS–Material Safety Data Sheets) are required to be available in the work place. Should physicians, you or your employees need technical information, they provide it. Ours are easily available on the Design Master Website at the bottom of our Home Page, tabbed Safety Data Sheets.
SPRAY SMART ▪ RESPONSIBLE USE
Design Master Sprays are non-toxic when dry and are not hazardous when handled properly. As with any tool you work with, please use Design Master Sprays with care and respect. To ensure their proper and safe use read and follow all directions and cautions on each can as they may differ between products. The label instructions are there for your protection.
RECYCLING INSTRUCTIONS FOR DESIGN MASTER SPRAYS ARE SIMPLE : USE THEM UP UNTIL THE CANS ARE EMPTY, THEN RECYCLE THEM ALONG WITH OTHER CONTAINERS.
About 70 percent of Americans have access to curbside or drop off recycling facilities that recycle empty aluminum or steel aerosol containers. Make sure the cans are empty before tossing them in the bin. If it doesn’t spray you’re good to go.
ECO-TIP To access all the contents of the can, turn the spray nozzle to the black dot on the rim. This ensures that the can is thoroughly empty before recycling.
Double check with your community’s reuse program. If you can’t empty the whole thing, your city might know what to do with it.
ECO-TIP For a list of recycling centers in your area that accept aerosol cans, visit www.earth911.com.
IF YOUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT YET ACCEPT AEROSOL CONTAINERS FOR RECYCLING :
• Dispose of the empty can through normal household waste disposal according to label directions. Never dispose of an aerosol container in roadside dumps or open trash flames.
• Encourage your community to accept empty aerosol cans along with other metal containers. The Steel Recycling Institute can provide more information about recycling (800-937-1226) or visit www.steelsustainability.org.
GENERAL SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES
• KEEP CAN AWAY FROM CHILDREN.
• Use only in a well-ventilated area with fresh air. This could be indoors with air movement and open windows or an out-of-doors location.
• The vapor may cause flash fire. Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames. DO NOT SMOKE WHILE VAPOR IS PRESENT.
• Store can in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight and below 120 ˚F (49 ˚C).
• Do not puncture or incinerate (burn) can.
• Dispose of in accordance with all local, state and federal regulations. RECYCLE
• Always ensure spray nozzle is pointed away from you.
• Do not excessively breathe vapor or spray.
• Do not take internally.
• Do not get in eyes.
• Wash hands thoroughly after using product.
DESIGN MASTER ACCEPTS THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR ENVIRONMENT WITH HIGH REGARD.
Since 1961, Design Master has maintained our position as the world leader in RESPONSIBLE and INNOVATIVE color and design. We’ve always accepted the rigorous stewardship of our environment while providing the best products available to the industry. Since the beginning, we are proud to be Made in the USA.
This information is available as our Simple. Smart. Safe. Sound. pdf-flyer.
ANIMAL STEWARDSHIP : NO ANIMAL TESTING
No animal sourced ingredients are used in the manufacturing of Design Master products nor do we test our finished spray products or product ingredients on animals. And, we do not purchase ingredients from sellers that test on animals.