Be Green Packaging Wins Best Product Design at Justmeans Social Innovation Awards For Collaboration With Gillette

BOSTON – On Wednesday, April 25^th Justmeans officially announced the winners of the 2012 Social Innovation Awards naming Be Green Packaging, LLC as the recipient of the Best Product Design award.  Be Green received the award for its work with Gillette on the design and development of the new Fusion ProGlide Razor packaging.  The Fusion ProGlide trays, which are composed of a proprietary blend of plant fibers, reduced cost and material weight while maintaining Gillette’s distinctive product packaging.

The Justmeans Social Innovation Awards competition brought together over 130 organizations from 17 countries in pursuit of nine awards across a variety of categories related to corporate social responsibility and sustainability.  The judges’ panel at this year’s event included top CEOs, sustainability professionals, journalists, editors and visionaries with established expertise in the burgeoning field of corporate social responsibility and its many incarnations.  Entries in the Best Product Design category were evaluated based on criteria related to innovation in product design and efficiency, and how that translated to maintaining sustainability throughout the product’s lifecycle.

“The Fusion ProGlide pack was the result of an amazing collaboration between Be Green and Gillette,” stated Justin Faerman, Director of Media and Marketing at Be Green, who attended the awards ceremony on behalf of the company. “We are excited to have won this award and are glad to see the packaging being recognized for the innovation it represents.  We’re taking plant fiber technology to areas it has never been before.”

The Justmeans award is the second major design award that the Fusion ProGlide tray has won; the other being the DuPont Diamond Award for Packaging Innovation received in July 2011.

Be Green’s proprietary technology allows it to create a wide range of consumer, industrial, and food grade packaging from a blend of non-food plant fibers.  These fibers are formed into an array of shapes and sizes using advanced moulding processes that can be adapted to meet nearly any specification.  Be Green maintains a long list of eco-social certifications from independent, third party organizations such as the Cradle to Cradle^cm Products Innovation Institute, the Biodegradable Products Institute, Western Michigan University’s Recycling Pilot Program, the Non-GMO Project, and the USDA BioPreferred Program, among others.

About Be Green Packaging

Be Green Packaging LLC, based in Santa Barbara, Calif., manufactures and distributes Cradle to Cradle^cm certified, tree-free, compostable and recyclable packaging for the food and consumer packaging industries. The company’s products are made from annually renewable plant fibers that are safe for people and healthy for the planet. For more information about the company, please visit Be Green Packaging.  To order Be Green products visit the Be Green Packaging Store here: Biodegradable Packaging

About Proctor and Gamble

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Actonel®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, and Braun®.  The P&G community consists of over 135,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

About Justmeans

@Justmeans Justmeans, a subsidiary of 3BL Media, is a leading source of information and connections for the sustainable business industry. Founded in 2008, the company’s online community of practitioners, investors, journalists, activists, and students has rapidly grown to 250,000 registered users. Additionally, Justmeans provides content and distribution consulting for companies committed to social and environmental performance, maintains a listing of sustainability jobs and events, and produces the Justmeans Social Innovation Awards. http://www.justmeans.com

Be Green Packaging Launches Online Business to Business Web Store

Visit the new site: http://begreenpackagingstore.com

SANTA BARBARA – Be Green Packaging announced today the official launch of its new web-based packaging store, which will allow small restaurants and consumers alike to purchase plant-fiber trays, plates, cups, and other foodservice items directly from the company.  The web store was developed with the intent of streamlining the ordering process for small businesses and customers looking for smaller quantities of product.  Interested parties will be able to order cases of the company’s packaging from the new website via debit or credit card and have the product shipped to any location worldwide.  Be Green will be running the operation out of its new manufacturing and distribution facility located in Ridgeland, South Carolina.

The company will be offering a full foodservice line consisting of plant fiber plates, trays, sample cups, clamshells and sushi trays.  Be Green’s compostable and recyclable packaging is manufactured from annually renewable bulrush fiber.  The company has distinguished itself from other purveyors of fiber packaging by garnering a host of independent, 3^rd party environmental and social certifications from organizations such as the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, Intertek, the American Institute of Baking (AIB), BPI, the Non-GMO Project, and Western Michigan University’s Recycling Program, among others.

“This website is a direct response to demand from businesses, universities, schools, restaurants and other smaller customers that do not fit into our traditional distribution system.  We are really aiming to simplify the ordering process for them.” Stated Ron Blitzer, CEO of Be Green.  “The goal here is to make our packaging accessible to anyone interested in embracing sustainability.  This move is not intended to compete with existing distributors who will continue to have the best prices in the supply chain.”

In addition to the e-commerce site, Be Green also maintains an active news blog, which is regularly updated with information on the company’s achievements and community outreach programs.  Be Green also maintains an extensive homepage that provides in-depth information on a wide variety of topics on all aspects of the company.

http://begreenpackagingstore.com

Be Green Packaging to Sponsor 2012 Sustainable Packaging Coalition Spring Meeting

SANTA BARBARA – Be Green Packaging announced today that it will be one of the official sponsors of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s 2012 Spring Meeting held in Toronto, Canada.   The SPC conference provides an industry-wide forum for business leaders and professionals within the sustainable packaging field to share their knowledge and expertise with the intention of fostering collaboration throughout the packaging supply chain.

This year’s event will feature speakers from around the world covering topics such as 3^rd party certifications, waste reduction, social media and how these subjects relate to and enhance the goals of the sustainable packaging industry.  As an innovator in the plant-fiber packaging field and a company that holds an array of 3^rd party certifications, Be Green has sponsored this year’s event in order to bring greater awareness to the fiber packaging market.

Be Green Packaging built its global reputation in the industrial packaging market based off its work with Gillette (P&G) on the award-winning plant fiber tray for the new Gillette^® Fusion ProGlide^® razor.  Be Green has also established a significant presence in the food service sector due to its pioneering work with Whole Foods Market.  The Santa Barbara based company, which developed the world’s first Cradle to Cradle Certified^CM plant fiber packaging, is currently in the process of opening the first US-based plant fiber packaging manufacturing facility in Ridgeland, South Carolina.

“The SPC and Green Blue provided us with so much of the science and background for what we have done since our founding in 2006,” states Be Green CEO and President Ron Blitzer.  “We are now in a financial position to give back and our sponsorship of the 2012 Spring Meeting reflects our continued commitment, support and appreciation of the SPC.”

The SPC 2012 Spring Meeting will be held April 23^rd-25^th at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Canada.  For more information visit the SPC website.

Be Green Packaging LLC. manufactures and distributes Cradle to Cradle Certified^cm, tree-free, and compostable packaging for the food service and consumer markets.  The company designs and engineers products made from annually renewable plant fibers that are safe for people and healthy for the planet. Be Green is currently in the process of opening the first plant fiber manufacturing facility in the US in Jasper County, South Carolina.  The plant will be operated according to Cradle to Cradle^cm principles. For more information about the company, please visit www.begreenpackaging.com.

 

 

Be Green Packaging’s 2011 Sustainability Report: Corporate Social Responsibility

Earlier this year Be Green Packaging released its 2011 Sustainability Report, which provides an in-depth look at the company’s progress towards long range social, environmental, and economic goals.  The report is a key component of Be Green’s commitment to the triple bottom line philosophy, which is a progressive method of internal accounting that places environmental and social stewardship on par with profitability.

A core tenet of the triple bottom line philosophy is a commitment to transparency throughout the scope of a company’s operations.  This article is intended to reflect Be Green’s adherence to this principle by providing insight into the company’s main corporate social responsibility efforts and their relation to the larger paradigm of Be Green’s sustainability targets.

At the heart of any corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort is the fair and ethical treatment of workers.  During the 2010-2011 fiscal year, Be Green began working closely with the independent organization Intertek to systematically review and certify its manufacturing operations pass internationally recognized fair labor standards (among other things).  Additionally, as part of Be Green’s Cradle to Cradle^CM certification, a thorough review of working conditions and labor practices at all of the company’s offices and facilities was undertaken and passed when the company originally received the certification in 2008.  The Intertek audit is the latest in a series of ongoing self-review measures.

An additional aspect of Be Green’s multifaceted approach to CSR is the ongoing contributions the company makes to various charitable organizations such as the Whole Planet Foundation and the Organic Center, among others.  Be Green has actively worked with the Whole Planet Foundation since 2009 when the company became the founding member of the Ten Thousand Dollar Fund.  The Whole Planet Foundation runs a worldwide microcredit lending program that seeks to end poverty in communities that supply Whole Foods Market with products.  According to the foundation, “…$10,000 can change the lives of 50 impoverished families for generations.”

On a local scale, Be Green works with non-profit organizations such as the Organic Soup Kitchen of Santa Barbara, which provides healthy, nourishing food to the homeless throughout the year, and the Jasper Community Fund, which supports various local humanitarian projects in Jasper county, South Carolina (the site of Be Green’s newest manufacturing plant).  Since being welcomed to the state earlier in the year by Governor Nikki Haley, Be Green has made a concerted effort to integrate itself into the community by hiring from local cities and counties and working with various charitable and educational organizations in the area.  The company is planning to source raw materials from local farmers in the surrounding communities as manufacturing operations begin later this year.

Be Green’s complete line of foodservice products is fully compostable, which presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for the company.  Although composting has been around for thousands of years, outside of agriculture and its related industries, little is known about it.  Furthermore, with the recent advent of biodegradable PLA products, the regulatory landscape is changing rapidly.  It can be confusing and intimidating to those who are new to the concept of composting and studies have shown this simply leads to frustration and incorrect sorting practices (of trash, food scraps, and recyclable waste), which negates the whole idea in the first place.  To this end, Be Green has undertaken substantial efforts to educate clients and end users on a range of subjects relating to proper disposal of their products.  For instance, Be Green works closely with Whole Foods Market to help ensure proper composting on both a store and company wide level.  Be Green also makes composting guides and information freely available on their website and as part of their new customer packets, the intention being to affect change at all levels of the ‘composting pyramid’.  Download the compost toolkit here.

Communication, both internally and externally, of company environmental and social sustainability policies and efforts is critical to any well-rounded, successful CSR effort.  To this end, Be Green ensures all staff are thoroughly trained on and informed of all company policies and goals regarding sustainability in any of its incarnations.  Additionally, the company publishes annual sustainability reports in order to provide an overview of its efforts in this regard to all interested parties.

To learn more about Be Green Packaging’s CSR initiatives, visit their website here and the company news blog here.  The 2011 Sustainability Report can be downloaded here.

Be Green Packaging LLC, based in Santa Barbara, Calif., manufactures and distributes Cradle to Cradle^cm certified, tree-free, compostable packaging for the food and consumer packaging industries. The company’s products are made from annually renewable plant fibers that are safe for people and healthy for the planet. For more information about the company, please visit www.begreenpackaging.com.

Be Green Packaging Releases its 2011 Sustainability Report

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Be Green Packaging today announced the release of its 2011 Sustainability Report.  The document is an annual report that systematically tracks the company’s progress towards
innovative social, environmental, and economic goals.  Be Green’s internal sustainability goals are based on the triple bottom line philosophy, which is a holistic paradigm for measuring organizational success.  This method of internal accounting places environmental stewardship and social responsibility on an equal footing with profitability in terms of overall importance to the organizations bottom line.  The company, which manufactures compostable and recyclable packaging from renewable plant fibers, has maintained a strong commitment to the principles of sustainability since its inception in early 2007.

Download the report here: 2011 Sustainability Report

This years report covers the progress attained during the preceding (2009-2010) fiscal year.  In this period, the company reported improvement in nearly all of the 20 different parameters measured covering social, environmental, and economic goals.  Steps taken this past year include the hiring of independent, 3rd-party organizations such as AIB (American Institute of Baking) and Intertek to conduct internal food safety and workplace conditions audits and the reduction of shipping waste by switching to 100% post-consumer recycled cartons, among others.  The company is currently working towards various long-term goals such as achieving zero-net carbon emissions from production, expanding its eco-advisory board, and acquiring additional environmental and social/workplace responsibility certifications from various independent organizations.

“This report is a way for us to integrate internal operations and external sales and marketing,” stated Megan Havrda, Chairwoman of Be Green’s Eco-Advisory Board. “We hope that it will provide the public with a comprehensive understanding of our company’s values and efforts to adhere to and further the triple bottom line philosophy in our industry.”

In July of this year, Be Green announced that it would be opening the first plant fiber packaging manufacturing facility in the United States in Ridgeland, South Carolina.  Governor Nikki Haley and Senator Clemente Pinckney made a visit to the 90,000-sq. ft. facility to welcome the company to the state and acknowledge the significant green job creation efforts that will accompany the plants’ development.

As of Sept. 1st, 2011, warehousing and distribution operations have begun, with manufacturing operations expected to begin Quarter I 2012.  CEO Ron Blitzer’s vision for the plant includes extensive sourcing of pulp from the local farms and suppliers in the surrounding communities and efforts to make the facility as close to 100% waste-free as possible.  Data from the upcoming plant will be integrated into Be Green’s upcoming 2012 Sustainability Report.

Be Green Packaging LLC, based in Santa Barbara, Calif., manufactures and distributes Cradle to Cradle^cm certified, tree-free, compostable packaging for the food and consumer packaging industries. The company’s products are made from annually renewable plant fibers that are safe for people and healthy for the planet. For more information about the company, please visit www.begreenpackaging.com.

Genji Sushi Wins Responsible Packaging Award for Use of Be Green Packaging Trays

Be Green Packaging would like to congratulate longtime client and collaborator Genji Sushi for winning a Responsible Packaging Award from the Responsible Packaging Project!

Genji Sushi Honored with Responsible Packaging Award

Company Recognized for Its Patented 100% Compostable Sushi Tray by Leading Industry Body

Philadelphia, PA, September 26, 2011 –(PR.com)– Genji Sushi, purveyor of all-natural sushi and Japanese cuisine at 137 Whole Foods Markets on the East Coast and in San Francisco, is proud to announce it is the recipient of a Responsible Packaging Award from the Responsible Packaging Project. Genji was recognized for its patented 100% tree-free compostable sushi tray, which was co-developed with partner Be Green Packaging, LLC. The Award was presented at the Natural Products Expo in Baltimore, MD on September 24, 2011.“We are honored to receive this award from the Responsible Packaging Project,” said Ken Blakeman, Director of Marketing, Genji, Inc. “Our commitment to sustainability and earth-friendly practices is central to our mission, and we are proud to be praised for our efforts.”

The Responsible Packaging Awards recognize organic and natural industry achievements and innovations in environmentally responsible packaging, including materials reduction, the use of 100% post-consumer recycled, non-GMO, compostable and third party certified packaging and packaging that is returnable for reuse, easily recycled or reused by the end user. Nominees are evaluated on criteria in three areas: commitment to transparency, extended producer responsibility and ecological systems design principles.

The Awards are co-sponsored by the Responsible Packaging Project, a non-profit collaboration of the Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association, Independent Natural Foods Retail Association, National Cooperative Grocers Association, New Hope Natural Media, Organic Trade Association, United Natural Foods Inc. and Whole Foods Market’s Green Mission.

The Awards ceremony was held on September 24, 2011 at 12:00PM in room 322 at the Baltimore Convention Center during the Natural Products Expo in East Baltimore, MD. To learn more, please visit http://www.responsible-packaging.org.

About Genji Sushi

Established in 1997, Genji Sushi is dedicated to the finest quality all-natural sushi and Japanese-inspired cuisine in a grab‐and‐go style. Its sushi bars are located within 138 Whole Foods Market locations in 18 states and the District of Columbia, as well as the U.K. At each location, skilled chefs prepare a variety of fresh items on‐site, including raw, cooked, vegetarian and vegan-friendly sushi and sides. The company mission is to contribute towards healthier food consumption habits on a global level. For more information, visit www.genjiweb.com.

About Be Green Packaging

Be Green Packaging LLC, based out of Santa Barbara, Calif., manufactures and distributes Cradle to Cradle certified, tree-free, compostable, recyclable, and non-GMO packaging for the food and consumer packaging industries. The company’s products are made from annually renewable plant fibers that are safe for people and healthy for the planet. For more information about the company, please visit www.begreenpackaging.com.

Be Green Packaging Successfully Completes AIB Food Contact Packaging Audit

Be Green Packaging, LLC. today announced that it has successfully completed an AIB food safety audit of its China-based manufacturing facility.  The company, which produces a complete line of compostable and recyclable foodservice packaging from renewable plant fibers, conducted the audit as part of a larger campaign to certify the entirety of its operations by independent, 3^rd party organizations.

The American Institute of Baking (AIB) is an internationally recognized certification and inspection body that has developed an industry standard audit for food contact packaging manufacturers.  Companies can voluntarily undergo AIB audits in order to gain insight into areas which may need improvement and also to maintain a high level of transparency into their operations.

“We decided to undergo an AIB audit in order to demonstrate our willingness to let independent, 3^rd party organizations review our facilities as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency,“ commented Eva Van Wingerden, Director of Eco-social Initiatives at Be Green.  “When all was said and done, however, it ended up being much more than that.  The results of the review helped us to identify and systematically improve various aspects of our facility, which results in a safer workplace and product for everyone involved.”

Be Green Packaging adheres to the triple bottom line philosophy, which places environmental stewardship and social responsibility on par with profitability.   The company maintains a long list of eco-social certifications from organizations such as the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, the Biodegradable Products Institute, Western Michigan University’s Recycling Pilot Program, the Non-GMO Project, and the USDA BioPreferred Program, among others.  The company is also currently undergoing a Workplace Conditions Assessment (WCA) through the organization Intertek, which specifically focuses on the health, well being, and working conditions of employees at its various facilities.

The company will be opening the first plant fiber packaging manufacturing facility in the United States later this year.  Governor Nikki Haley along with Jasper county community leaders recently visited the forthcoming Ridgeland, South Carolina facility officially welcoming the company to the state.  Be Green will begin distribution out of the Ridgeland facility in September and commence manufacturing in the first quarter of 2012.

Be Green Packaging LLC, based in Santa Barbara, Calif., manufactures and distributes Cradle to Cradle certified, tree-free, compostable packaging for the food and consumer packaging industries. The company’s products are made from annually renewable plant fibers that are safe for people and healthy for the planet. For more information about the company, please visit www.begreenpackaging.com.

Plant Fiber Packaging Company, Be Green Packaging, LLC., Receives Renewed Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Certification

SANTA BARBARA, July 25th – Be Green Packaging, LLC. today announced that it has successfully completed its annual audit to renew the status of its bulrush food containers as Cradle to Cradle Certified^cm  Silver .  The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII) is an eco-certification body that maintains progressive environmental standards.  The organization requires an annual review of product materials and manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with its protocols.

The Cradle to Cradle Certified^cm program provides a high level of transparency into a company’s affairs by allowing an independent, 3^rd party organization to review product design, manufacturing facilities, and processes in order to provide feedback on areas that may need improvement or adjustment.  If a company meets or exceeds the institute’s standards, a certification is awarded according to varying levels of achievement along a continuum.

The  Cradle to Cradle Certified^cm standard is based on the principles outlined by Dr. Michael Braungart and William McDonough in their seminal book ”Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things”, which laid the framework for reassessing how we view a products life cycle.  According to C2CPII literature, a “Cradle to Cradle Certification is a multi-attribute eco-label that assesses a product’s safety to humans and the environment and design for future life cycles.”  Products (and the associated manufacturing processes) must meet or exceed a series of standards that assess applications in the following five areas: material health, material reutilization, energy (renewables usage, conservation), water stewardship, and social responsibility.  As of the writing of this press release, Be Green Packaging is the only foodservice packaging manufacturer to have been Cradle to Cradle Certified^cm.

“We are serious about going the extra mile to get our products certified by independent organizations that maintain stringent eco-standards.” commented Be Green CEO Ron Blitzer on the recent achievement. “Our director of eco-social initiatives, Eva Van Wingerden, ensures that Be Green maintains a strong commitment to the triple bottom line philosophy, which balances the environment, economy, and equity, by working hard to receive independent verification of all of our claims from various eco-certification bodies the world over.  The renewal of our Cradle to Cradle certification is proof that we care about more than our bottom line.”

The company recently received industry wide attention for its work with Gillette (P&G), which garnered the duo a Diamond award at DuPont’s 23rd Annual Awards for Packaging Innovation.  In addition to P&G, Be Green currently supplies notable organizations such as Whole Foods Market, 7-11, and Sonoco, among others.  The company will be expanding its worldwide operations by opening the nation’s first plant fiber packaging facility in South Carolina later this year.

Cradle to Cradle Certified^cm is a certification mark sub-licensed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

[Authors Note: The Cradle to Cradle Certified^cm program was founded by sustainable design consulting firm McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) and has moved to the recently established nonprofit organization Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute for administration.]

Be Green Packaging LLC, based in Santa Barbara, California, manufactures and distributes Cradle to Cradle^cm Certified, tree-free, compostable packaging for the food and consumer packaging industries. The company’s products are made from annually renewable plant fibers that are safe for people and healthy for the planet. For more information about the company, please visit: www.begreenpackaging.com

Be Green Packaging’s Plant-Based Packaging Receives USDA BioPreferred Certification

SANTA BARBARA, June 22nd – Be Green Packaging announced today that its line of plant-based food packaging has achieved USDA BioPreferred status.  The company’s packaging, which is composed of wild-harvested plant fibers such as bulrush and bamboo, qualified for the labeling due to its high level of ‘biobased’ content.  According to the USDA’s website, the term ‘biobased’ refers to commercial or industrial products (other than food or feed) that are composed in whole, or in significant part, of biological products, renewable agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine materials), or forestry materials.

The BioPreferred label was created by the USDA in 2002 in order to encourage consumers and government agencies to identify and use products which meet the programs biobased content standards.  Products that achieve BioPreferred status receive preference for all government contracts over those that do not.

In addition to the BioPreferred label, Be Green’s line of food service packaging has also garnered independent, 3rd party certification from a host of organizations such as the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), Western Michigan University’s Recycling Program, and the Non-GMO Project, among others.

Be Green Packaging and Proctor & Gamble Receive Diamond Award at 23rd Annual DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.; June 13th, 2011 – DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers has announced the winners of its 23rd Annual Awards for Packaging Innovation, naming Be Green Packaging and Proctor & Gamble as the recipients of its highest honor, the prestigious Diamond Award.  The companies garnered the accolade for their recent collaboration on the design of Gillette’s new Fusion Pro Glide razor packaging trays.  The new trays, which are composed of plant-based fibers, reduced cost and material weight while maintaining Gillette’s distinctive product packaging.   Be Green is known for its line of compostable and recyclable packaging that is also manufactured from plant-based materials similar to those used in the Gillette Fusion ProGlide trays.

DuPont gives Diamond Awards only to those companies that demonstrate extraordinary levels of innovation, commitment to the principles of sustainability, and cost/waste reduction.  Of this years 200+ applicants from around the world, only two were chosen to receive this honor.  In addition to the Be Green Packaging/P&G team, Ecovative Design also received recognition for its line of protective secondary packaging created from a combination of mycelium (mushroom roots) and regionally sourced agricultural byproducts.  Entries were reviewed by an independent panel of judges comprised of top executives from across the packaging and sustainability industries.

“The Packaging Awards program is an opportunity to celebrate how collaborating throughout the value chain can bring cost-effective innovation to the market to help solve the big issues,” said Shanna Moore, global director of sustainable packaging at DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers.  “The Gillette Fusion ProGlide packaging captures the spirit of innovation to resolve complex global challenges.”

Be Green’s proprietary technology allows it to create a wide range of consumer, industrial, and food grade packaging from a mix of plant-based fibers.  WIld-harvested, annually renewable plants are formed into an array of shapes and sizes using advanced moulding processes that can be adapted to meet nearly any specification.  The company maintains stringent eco-certifications from third party organizations such as the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and the Biodegradable Products Institute to ensure transparency in its manufacturing operations.

“Be Green are leaders in the green packaging industry.  Their pressed plant-fiber manufacturing capabilities are what initially attracted me to the company and they worked closely with us [Gillette] to develop the Fusion ProGlide tray.  We had tight deadlines and they delivered, everytime.” said Mike Marcinowski, principal research and development engineer of Proctor & Gamble’s global packaging development division. “There has been a big push within the packaging industry to reduce the environmental impacts of our products.  We chose Be Green to manufacture the Gillette Fusion ProGlide tray because they had the plant-fiber technology we needed with a host of eco-certifications to back it up.”

“We are extremely pleased to have won this award in partnership with P&G” commented Robert Richman, chairman and president of manufacturing. “The DuPont award is a milestone for both companies.  By maintaining a high-level of transparency in all our interactions we were able to develop truly innovative packaging for the Gillette Fusion Pro Glide.  Our recipe for success is simple: collaboration and transparency through every step of the process.”

“This award proves that it is possible to bring sustainable green solutions to the marketplace at lower costs than traditional packaging while significantly lowering a company’s packaging footprint” said Ron Blitzer, CEO of Be Green Packaging in regards to the recent announcement. “For consumers and retailers alike, this collaboration is providing a template for the next generation in packaging.  This is a big win for not only Be Green and P&G/Gillette, but consumers as well.”

The Gillette Fusion Pro Glide razor is currently available in a number of European markets, including the United Kingdom.

In addition to P&G, Be Green is currently supplying food service packaging to Whole Foods Market and 7-11, among others.  The company will be expanding its global manufacturing operations by opening the nation’s first plant-fiber manufacturing facility based on the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s standards later this year in Jasper county South Carolina.

About Be Green Packaging

Be Green Packaging LLC, based in Santa Barbara, Calif., manufactures and distributes Cradle-to-Cradle certified, tree-free, compostable packaging for the food and consumer packaging industries. The company’s products are made from annually renewable plant fibers that are safe for people and healthy for the planet. For more information about the company, please visit www.begreenpackaging.com.

About Proctor and Gamble

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Actonel®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, and Braun®.  The P&G community consists of over 135,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.