Be Green Packaging Partners With Engineering and Construction Firm The Austin Company to Develop Green Manufacturing Facility in South Carolina

SANTA BARBARA, June 6th, 2011 – Be Green Packaging, LLC announced today that it has engaged The Austin Company, a leading design, engineering, and construction firm who will undertake the development of the company’s new $7.3 million dollar manufacturing facility in Ridgeland, South Carolina. Earlier this year, Be Green announced the purchase of the 27-acre property where it will house the nation’s first plant-based, compostable packaging facility operating under the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s sustainability standards. Based out of Santa Barbara, California, Be Green is making a name for itself in the emerging sustainable packaging sector by working with a diverse portfolio of clients such as Whole Foods Market, P&G’s GIllette Razor Company, and Sonoco, among others.

With over 130 years of experience, The Austin Company is one of the country’s preeminent engineering and construction firms whose list of clients covers a wide range of industries from aerospace to food service. In the past, The Austin Company has worked with internationally recognizable organizations such as Proctor and Gamble, General Mills, The Boeing Company, Danisco, and Unilever, among others, to design, construct, and maintain some of the world’s most innovative manufacturing facilities. The company will be serving as design, engineering and construction consultants and offering a host of process operations improvement services to Be Green in the months running up to the plant’s opening.

“Be Green is committed to quality in every aspect of how we conduct business, from our manufacturing standards to our finished product. We want to extend that same level of commitment to our new facility and that is why we have brought The Austin Company on board” commented Robert Richman, Chairman and President of Manufacturing, when asked about the partnership. “Simply put, they have the experience and knowledge to help us get our facility up and running in the shortest timeframe possible while maintaining our high standards.”

Be Green Packaging LLC, based in Santa Barbara, California, 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

Be Green Packaging Launches Nation’s First Sustainable Plant-Fiber Manufacturing Facility Based on Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Standards

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – May 26, 2011 – Be Green Packaging, LLC. announced today that it has finalized the purchase of the manufacturing plant where it will house the nations first compostable packaging facility based on the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s standards. The rapidly growing company, which is located in Santa Barbara, CA, designs and manufactures Cradle to Cradle certified packaging from plant-based fibers and is currently supplying notable companies such as Whole Foods Market, 7-Eleven and P&G’s Gillette Razor Company, among others. Be Green’s present domestic operations are limited to warehouses in Boston and Los Angeles, however, the company is seeking to augment its China manufacturing base with the new facility in Ridgeland, SC.

In order to accommodate its growing list of clients and expand the company’s operations globally, Be Green will be opening a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Jasper county South Carolina. Gov. Nikki Haley recently lauded the company’s decision to locate the facility in Ridgeland stating “What makes this great is that we [the state of South Carolina] said we weren’t going to just focus our economic development and job creation efforts on the cities but also the rural areas that need it the most. Be Green Packaging’s decision to invest more than $7.3 million and create 175 new jobs in our state is exciting news.

The company is currently the only manufacturer of sustainable food packaging to have achieved a Cradle to Cradle certification according to the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII) protocols. Founded in 2010, the C2CPII is a non-profit organization whose aim is to transform our perception of what makes a product truly sustainable. The C2CPII Cradle to Cradle standard was developed to provide an objective level of certification for products that “…[mirror] the healthy, regenerative productivity of nature, and thereby [create] industry that is continuously improving and sustaining life and growth.” (c2ccertified.org) According to the design firm MBDC (C2CPII’s predecessor), “…unlike single-attribute eco-labels, [the Cradle to Cradle] certification program takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating the design of a product and the practices employed in manufacturing the product.” Factors such as material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social responsibility are considered when determining whether or not a product meets the organizations standards.

The new plant will combine a sophisticated water reclamation system with extensive composting and recycling operations to achieve its goal of becoming a 100% waste-free facility. CEO Ron Blitzer plans to extend the company’s triple bottom line philosophy to the new plant. “Our commitment to sustainability doesn’t end with our products– in addition to reducing our environmental footprint, we will be creating long-term jobs and growth in the area.  We are committed to safety and quality in our plant and adding value to the communities in which we operate. With radical changes happening daily in our industry, now is the time to bring our manufacturing operations to the US.” commented Blitzer.

Since opening its doors in 2007, Be Green has accumulated a long list of 3rd party environmental certifications by maintaining a strong commitment to its triple bottom line philosophy, which puts social and environmental stewardship on par with generating profit as a core policy of the enterprise. The company’s packaging, which is manufactured from renewable, wild-harvested plants such as bulrush, bagasse, and bamboo, is certified compostable, recyclable, and tree-free. A non-GMO certification is pending although the company maintains that it does not use GM fibers in any of its products.

“Innovation is at the core of our enterprise” stated Robert Richman, Chairman and President of Manufacturing. “Because our packaging is manufactured from renewable, plant-based fibers, we are able to eschew petroleum and the significant problems associated with it, including rapidly increasing costs. We are excited to be at the forefront of the green revolution and are working around the clock to get things up and running at the Ridgeland facility.”

Gillette Fusion Proglide

PRESS RELEASE COURTESY OF PACKAGING OF THE WORLD

The launch of Procter & Gamble’s new Gillette® Fusion® ProGlide™ Power Razor represents a first in the packaging industry and an exciting new direction for Burgopak USA. The partnership between Burgopak and Be Green Packaging–a molded-fiber company based out of Santa Barbara–has us all looking forward, and this first successful collaboration is a landmark. The significance of Procter & Gamble’s involvement as the largest consumer packaged goods company in the world cannot be understated.

Aligning with Procter & Gamble’s new long-term goals in environmental sustainability, the package redesign utilizes Be Green’s fiber-based material. The pack was a huge win in package reduction, resulting in a 79% reduction in plastics, a 17% reduction in gross weight, and a 16% improvement in pallet density; all of which was achieved without any cost increase or detriment to the aesthetics of the pack.

Procter & Gamble’s new long-term sustainability goals and strategies were released earlier in 2010, focusing on “a deep understanding of consumers.” The plan includes a vision of using materials–like Be Green–that are renewably sourced, “with meaningful sustainable innovations that reduce the environmental impact of [their] products across the full product lifecycle.”

Without sacrificing innovative design for environmental benefits, the package redesign retains shelf impact, brand identity, product protection, and cost-neutrality. Burgopak’s design aim with P&G was to integrate, not agitate the established brand value of Gillette…

Burgopak has worked with Procter & Gamble on a range of structural design projects for their leading consumer brands including The Art Of Shaving and ZIRH. The new Gillette Fusion ProGlide launched globally on January 25th, 2011.

Be Green Launches New Website

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Santa Barbara, CA – April 11, 2011 – Be Green Packaging, now a California and South Carolina based company, is proud to announce the launch of their new website.

After many months of strategic collaboration with LA based design and marketing company, FreeAssociates, they believe that they have built a website that embodies the personality and character of their brand.

Be Green feels the website better positions them in the current sustainable packaging industry. Equipped with a new consumer packaging page, the site exemplifies Be Green’s proficiency in the custom consumer packaging industry. Be Green’s breakthrough technologies have given them the ability to create custom packaging designed to a client’s specifications. Their process allows them mold rapidly renewable fibers with impeccable precision and quality.

Be Green takes great pride in their commitment to a whole system packaging operation and in the transparency through which they conduct their entire business. Amid the surge of greenwashing, Be Green wants their customers to be sure that the products they manufacture are truly environmentally friendly. Their new website provides this assurance by detailing Be Green’s environmental and social memberships, affiliations, and third party certifications and testing.

“The new website is more usable, accessible and educational and it also provides an improved outlet for our customers to interface with us,” said Shala Kiewert, Senior Administrative Vice President at Be Green.

Overall, Be Green hopes the strategic design will assist Be Green in achieving their environmental, social, and economic goals.

Check out their new website at: www.begreenpackaging.com

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Be Green Packaging Announces Jasper County Facility

Be Green Packaging LLC Announces New Facility in Jasper County
Investment expected to create at least 175 new jobs

COLUMBIA, S.C. – April 8, 2011 – Gov. Nikki Haley, the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Lowcountry Economic Alliance today announced that Be Green Packaging LLC, a manufacturer of “green” packaging, will locate its new manufacturing and distribution facility in Jasper County. The company plans to invest at least $7.3 million and expects to generate at least 175 new jobs over the next five years, with the potential of more jobs and investment added during that time.

Be Green Packaging, a fast-growing green packaging business, will locate its new manufacturing and distribution facility in Jasper County in an existing building located at 4427 Grays Highway in Ridgeland, S.C. The company will manufacture and distribute consumer, industrial and food-grade packaging from this new plant.

“What makes this great is that we said we weren’t going to just focus our economic development and job creation efforts on the cities but also the rural areas that need it the most. Be Green Packaging’s decision to invest more than $7.3 million and create 175 new jobs in our state is exciting news. We’re working every day to make our state the most competitive in the country for business development so that we will continue to see investments like this one,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.

“Green jobs and industry is more than a ‘slogan.’ Green jobs are jobs that help protect ecosystems and assist in biodiversity, reduce energy and water consumption, minimize waste and pay living wages and provide healthcare benefits for its workforce. Be Green Packaging felt this region and especially South Carolina, which has a long and rich tradition in the paper and pulping industries would be ideal for this 21st century business. The people of this state have the heritage, backgrounds and experience that will provide our company with the skills and resources for producing products made from sustainable plant fibers. The local agricultural community will benefit from Be Green as the crops and byproducts they grow in this region will be used as feedstock in our packaging material,” said Ron Blitzer, co-founder and CEO of Be Green Packaging.

Be Green Packaging has been manufacturing in China since 2006 and distributing from one of its Boston warehouses. The additional capacity of products made in the U.S. will further support the company’s U.S. and global customer base, which includes: Whole Foods Market, P&G’s (Gillette Razor Company) 7-11 and South Carolina-based Sonoco’s facility in Poland. The company will continue to manufacture in China to its ever-rapid expansion in support of its global demand. The Port of Charleston can anticipate increased container traffic as Be Green shifts imports of containers from Boston and New York to South Carolina for distribution throughout the U.S., according to the company.

Robert Richman co-founder, chairman and President of Manufacturing said that the community of Jasper County and the Lowcountry would benefit from the educational programs and curriculum Be Green will help to develop in sustainable packaging. “The Eco-Social commitments set us apart from our competition and help build a strong foundation for our relationships with our customers, our employees and the community at large.”

Be Green Packaging Products have been Certified by BPI

Santa Barbara, CA – Nov 23, 2010 – On November 9^th, Be Green Packaging LLC, received independent certification from Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), verifying that their molded pulp fiber packaging is compostable. This certification, confirms that their products meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D6868 standards for compostability.

Be Green Packaging is aware of the disconnect between the compostable packaging industry, consumers, and composting facilities. The company understands the challenge consumers face in trying to distinguish true compostable products from actual waste. Be Green is therefore enthusiastic to utilize the BPI logo (pictured right) to give consumers confidence in their purchase.

This logo will provide consumers, composters, and waste haulers an easily distinguishable label to indicate that Be Green’s products are “designed to biodegrade quickly, completely and safely, when composted in well-run municipal and commercial facilities” (Biodegradable Products Institute).

Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s 2010, “Compostable Packaging, The Reality on the Ground”, reports that improved labeling is one of the most significant areas for improvement in the compostable packaging industry. Be Green believes that BPI’s compostable label is the most established and well- recognized in North America. The company hopes to be a part of the solution by improving education, label visibility, and enforcement in the compostable packaging industry. Be Green believes that this certification will help them move one step forward towards this goal.

For more information about Be Green Packaging LLC please visit www.begreenpackaging.com.

Be Green…Live the Color.

Questions/comments please email: info@begreenpackaging.com

 

Be Green Packaging Sponsors the 25th Annual Kathy Ireland Children’s Holiday Celebration

Santa Barbara, Calif. — December 4, 2010 – Embracing the holiday spirit, Be Green participated in the 25^th Annual Kathy Ireland Children’s Holiday Celebration. Over 200 orphans from Los Angeles and Orange counties participated in the festivities at Yard House, who was the host of this year’s event. Be Green attended the event and also donated their compostable products to be used during the celebration. Other sponsors and organizers of the event included Kathy Ireland, AEFK and 911 for Kids.

The newly built Yard House restaurant, located at the Irvine Spectrum Center, opened their hearts and doors to children and volunteers, transforming the restaurant into a holiday craft workshop. Multiple stations were set up throughout the building helping kids engage their creative and active minds. Be Green’s donation helped serve the attendees’ lunch and also doubled as art supplies for the children.

During the holidays we often find ourselves caught up in the wave of consumption that overcomes our society, forgetting to acknowledge the abundance that exists in our own lives. This year’s event was a chance for those involved to share their time and resources with those who need it most: the children.

Be Green is excited to partner with Yard House restaurants, whose commitment to the environment and the local community is having a positive impact on our planet. Be Green looks forward to a prosperous year for Yard House and congratulate them for going the extra mile by hosting this year’s event and embracing sustainable business practices.

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.

Be Green Packaging Products Certified Recyclable

Santa Barbara, CA – Be Green Packaging has received certification from Western Michigan University through their Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC) Equivalency testing protocol. This certifies that Be Green’s packaging materials will recycle when put into cardboard recycling systems. The testing procedure involved testing 20% of Be Green’s fiber product laminated with PET with 80% old corrugated cardboard (OCC) and then comparing that against 100% OCC.

As a Cradle-to-Cradle certified company, Be Green Packaging is committed to the entire life cycle of its fiber products. Be Green Packaging knows that its fiber life does not end after the consumer has finished using it. In light of this, Be Green designs and manufacturers our products so that they can in turn, be recycled into biological nutrients through home or commercial composting practices. Now we can certify that our bulrush fiber packaging with or without PET or rPET lamination, can also go into a paper recycle stream as a “technological nutrient”.

Be Green Packaging believes in composting, however, composting has yet to become a mainstream practice. The composting collection systems in most communities are currently lagging behind the innovation of the compostable packaging industry. Meanwhile, the recycling industry is well developed and consumers are better educated as to the process and products that can be put into the recycling stream. Because of this, Be Green decided to submit their packaging to be tested at Western Michigan University’s Pilot Plant to confirm its recyclability.

Be Green Packaging celebrates this confirmation that our food and industrial packaging materials cannot only be recycled into biological nutrients, but can also be used as technical nutrients in the recycling stream.

More information on Be Green Packaging can be found at www.begreenpackaging.com.

Be Green…Live the Color.

Questions/comments please email: info@begreenpackaging.com

Be Green Packaging Helps to Educate Future Generations

Santa Barbara, CA  – As a triple bottom line company, Be Green Packaging values and appreciates the communities in which they operate. Recently, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara celebrated “Green Week” with their students to help educate them on all things green. Be Green Packaging donated products to be used during their festivities and to help spur conversations about the benefits of composting. Be Green believes in the importance of educating the younger generations and hopes their contribution will have a long-lasting effect.

More information on Be Green Packaging can be found at www.begreenpackaging.com.

Be Green…Live the Color.

Questions/comments please email: info@begreenpackaging.com

Be Green Launches Plastic Education Campaign

Photo Courtesy of Pixel Perfect Digital

Santa Barbara, CA – As consumers and businesses everywhere are attempting to “go green,” plastic is a topic that everyone seems to be discussing. Cities and governments around the world are banning plastic bags at checkout counters and others are moving away from plastic packaging. The Gulf Oil Spill has also made society question our reliance on petroleum-based products such as plastic. Meanwhile, environmental issues have continued to gain priority on the public agenda.

Here at Be Green our mission is to “Live the Color.” ^TM No only do we attempt to do this in our own lives, but we also try to empower others to do the same. Therefore, Be Green has launched a Plastic Education Campaign to help educate their customers and end users on the effects of plastic and ways to reduce its prevalence in their lives. The campaign will be featured on Be Green’s blog and will include informative articles, case studies, facts, and personal stories. We hope this campaign will help inspire and encourage consumers everywhere to make environmentally conscious decisions in their everyday lives.

More information on Be Green Packaging can be found at www.begreenpackaging.com.

Be Green…Live the Color.

Questions/comments please email: info@begreenpackaging.com