HAWTHORNE, Calif., Nov. 28, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Cereplast(tm), Inc. (OTCBB:CERP), producer of proprietary bio-based resins, announced today that California colleges are embracing the use of food service ware made with Cereplast bio-based resin. Viewing bio-based plastics as a socially responsible alternative to traditional petroleum based plastic, the Company's resin was used to manufacture compostable food service ware that is now being used at 3 college campuses in Northern California: California State University of Monterey Bay (CSUMB) (Monterey, CA), Menlo College (Atherton, CA), and St. Mary's College of California (Moraga, CA).
CSUMB, Menlo College and St. Mary's College of California, whose food service programs are managed by Sodexho Inc., have introduced Cereplast bio-based resin products as part of campus-wide composting programs. These colleges have found that an established composting program is a highly effective way to reduce their overall waste going to California's landfills. Products using Cereplast's bio-based resins were selected over petroleum based resins because they biodegrade in municipal composting facilities.
Mr. Frederic Scheer, Cereplast's CEO said, "We are pleased that products made with Cereplast's bio-based resins were selected. While the environmental reasons for using our products are clear, the economic advantages are becoming more pronounced as the cost of oil remains at historical highs. We expect that this trend will accelerate the growth in sales as more converters begin to switch to Cereplast(tm) resins."
Although the bio-based food service ware 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.
Cereplast creates several bio-plastic resins that can be shaped into a variety of products including utensils, containers, film and other packaging.
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
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