CHADDS FORD, PA--(Marketwire - June 24, 2009) - The partnership of
Associated Packaging Technologies
(APT) and ConAgra Foods to develop Healthy Choice frozen food trays
using 40% recycled PET material has already resulted in successful
sustainable packaging. Now, it has also paid off with award-winning
industry recognition. The pair has been named winner of a
21st annual DuPont Award for Packaging Innovation. Winners
were honored by DuPont on May 28, 2009 in a global on-line event including
exchanges on key sustainability topics in the packaging industry including
solutions for end of life.
"We apply DuPont science in working with consumer goods companies to
redesign their packaging in order to minimize packaging content and improve
environmental performance, as well as to be more cost effective," said
William F. Weber, vice president and general manager -- DuPont Packaging &
Industrial Polymers. According to Mark Staton, APT President and CEO, "This
is a huge honor to have our efforts recognized by an industry giant like
DuPont. It is also a great incentive to continue our company-wide
environmental initiatives."
An independent, international expert jury panel facilitated by Anne
Johnson, director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, evaluated the
over 120 entries in this year's competition on seven innovation factors
including resource and energy optimization and enhanced performance in
selecting ten winners and eight notable accomplishments. As winners, APT's
and ConAgra's category citation read as follows:
In an outstanding use of recycled content, 40 percent post consumer
recycled material offsets need for virgin PET and supports the market for
post consumer recycle material in these new frozen food trays.
Healthy Choice Trays from ConAgra, Developed and Produced by Associated
Packaging Technologies - U.S.
A significant achievement is the
high
recycle content, a first in dual-ovenable food packaging. In 2008, 8MM
pounds of PET were saved from the landfill through the use of post consumer
recycle and 236 million less BTUs of energy were used in the making of
these trays due to the use of recycle content. Typically
virgin CPET is
used for this type application due to cleanliness requirements. The
company met FDA requirements for the use of recycle in this application.
Recognized for Resource and Energy Optimization, Clean Production and
Responsible Sourcing.
The DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation is the packaging industry's
longest running, independently judged, global innovation awards program.
The entries were reviewed and judged in Wilmington, DE in March 2009, by a
prestigious panel of international jurors.
-- John A. Bernardo, Manager, Sustainable Innovations LLC
-- Tony Burns, Associate Director, Sustainability - Global Packaging and
Device Development, The Procter and Gamble Company
-- Julian Carroll, Managing Director, European Organization for Packaging
and the Environment
-- Ron Cotterman, Executive Director of Sustainability, Sealed Air
Corporation
-- Sara Hartwell, Environmental Specialist, U.S. EPA Office of Solid
Waste
-- Masanobu Ishikawa, Ph.D., Graduate School of Economics, Kobe
University
-- Anne Johnson, Director - Sustainable Packaging Coalition
-- Kim Lymn, Packaging Manager, Target Corporation
-- Mike Richmond, President and CEO, PTIS LLC
APT is the world's largest vertically integrated manufacturer of CPET
dual-ovenable containers for the food industry, the leading source for
plastic food trays in the North American frozen food industry, the first
supplier (in partnership with ConAgra) to bring recycled PET frozen food
trays to North America, and a major source for plastic food trays in other
markets, including foodservice, case ready meats, institutional, and
bakery. The company has thermoforming plants in: Cambridge, Ontario;
Waynesville, North Carolina; Chillicothe, Missouri; and Carrickmacross,
Ireland. APT is a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and NAPCOR.
Contact Information: For more information, contact:
Associated Packaging Technologies
1 Dickinson Drive, Suite 100
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
484-785-1120
Fax: 484-785-1121
www.APTechnologies.com
Press Contacts:
George Frederick
Vice President Sales, Marketing & Technical Sales
APT
484-785-1124
Dan Ditzler
Newton Associates
610-964-9300