HOUSTON, Feb. 19, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) announced today that it has been awarded a prestigious Champion award from the Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI), part of the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The SDSI program recognizes environmental leaders who voluntarily commit to the use of safer surfactants, which break down quickly to non-polluting compounds and help protect aquatic life in both fresh and salt water.
Sysco is equally committed to excellent product performance and a cleaner environment. The company's Earth Plus brand is currently the second largest offering of EPA-recognized products in the United States. By eliminating hazardous solvents, environmentally persistent surfactants and other chemicals of concern, and replacing them with safer ingredients, Sysco consistently demonstrates its commitment to environmental protection. You can read more about Sysco's sustainability practices in its corporate sustainability report at www.sysco.com.
"Safe, quality products are of utmost importance to Sysco and our participation in the EPA's DfE program and SDSI is a hallmark of our quality assurance program," said Rick Schnieders, Sysco's chairman and chief executive officer. "We hope our industry will follow Sysco's example, as safer surfactants provide benefits for all."
Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 180 distribution facilities serving more than 400,000 customers. For the fiscal year 2008 that ended June 28, 2008, the company generated more than $37 billion in sales. For more information about Sysco visit the company's Internet home page at www.sysco.com.
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