HAWTHORNE, Calif., Nov. 14, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Cereplast, Inc. (OTCBB:CERP), producer of proprietary bio-based resins which are used as substitutes for petroleum-based plastics, announced today that the Company's resin was used to manufacture compostable food service ware for the PGA Tour event in San Francisco in October.
Visitors to the PGA event at Harding Park were treated to food and drink served in food service ware made from an unlikely source - 100 percent American corn. Created from a revolutionary material called Cereplast, the utensils were available at the various food kiosks throughout the event.
The legendary American Express Championship at Harding Park is one of four World Golf Championships, a series of global events that bring the world's best golfers together in competition in various formats at a variety of international venues. This year, not only did San Francisco live its PGA dream at the storied Harding Park course with Tiger Woods finishing atop the leader-board, but the organizers did even more for the community and the environment by deciding to use food service ware made from Cereplast bio-based resins. After the Festival, the used food service ware was collected and sent to a compostable refuse site located outside of San Francisco.
Although the food serviceware looks identical to traditional plastic food service ware, Cereplast uses corn, an annually renewable resource, as a raw material instead of relying on petroleum. As such, the production of Cereplast uses less fossil fuel and emits fewer greenhouse gasses than comparable petroleum-based plastics.
Tableware made from Cereplast is an ideal complement for major events or venues like the Oakland Coliseum that use large amounts of food service disposables. In the United States, they have been recently used at several festivals including the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado, the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa (CA), and the Fillmore Jazz Festival in San Francisco.
"Like regular plastic ware, Cereplast is sturdy and strong and just as convenient to use," said Frederic Scheer, Cereplast, Inc. CEO. "But with Cereplast, consumers can take pride in using a product made from a domestic raw material that can be re-grown every year."
The technology to produce Cereplast incorporates in its composition NatureWorks PLA which harvests the starch stored in corn into natural plant sugars. The sugar is then fermented into lactic acid. Cereplast is used to create several resins that can be shaped into a variety of products including utensils, containers, film and other packaging. Another key benefit of Cereplast over traditional petroleum based resins is that where the infrastructure exists, products made from Cereplast will also degrade in municipal composting facilities.
About Cereplast, Inc.
Cereplast, Inc. has developed a breakthrough technology to produce proprietary bio-based resins which are used as substitutes for petroleum-based plastics in a variety of applications, including the manufacture of food service items such as utensils, plates, cups, and straws. Made from renewable resources such as corn and potato starch, Cereplast resins are bio-based, biodegradable and compostable and have comparable or superior performance characteristics to conventional plastics, and are sold at prices that are competitive with plastics. http://www.cereplast.com
Safe Harbor Statement
Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company.