Be Green Packaging Launches Nations First Sustainable Plant-Fiber Manufacturing Facility Based on Green Products Innovation Institute Standards

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) 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 Green 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 Green Products Innovation Institute (GPII) protocols. Founded in 2010, the GPII is a non-profit organization whose aim is to transform our perception of what makes a product truly sustainable. The GPII 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." (gpinnovation.org) According to the design firm MBDC (GPII'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." 

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.

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