Cooperation with Wal-Mart

24 Feb 2006 07:02

Stanelco PLC24 February 2006 24th February 2006 Stanelco plc Stanelco in cooperation with Wal-Mart Stanelco is proud to announce its involvement in Wal-Mart's PackagingSustainable Value Network and the identification of specific areas forco-operation. Stanelco attended, by invitation, the Wal-Mart Sustainable Value Network Summiton the 6 & 7th February in Bentonville, Arkansas, USA, along with a select groupof other stakeholders. Wal-Mart shared its vision for sustainability in allareas of the business with the group, which agreed to work together to helpWal-Mart achieve its sustainability aims. Both parties have identified specific areas where Stanelco can assist Wal-Martmeet some of its sustainability objectives in the short, medium and long termfuture. These include • GreenSeal Radio Frequency Technologies and • a significant number of opportunities were identified for its Biodegradable packaging technologies. Wal-Mart has requested that some lines be fast tracked and work on thoseprojects has already begun, specifically for Stanelco's recently US Food andDrug Administration (FDA) approved Starpol 2000 biodegradable material. Martin Wagner, Chief Executive Office, Stanelco, commented, "Stanelco sharesWal-Mart's commitment to this initiative, which will deliver excellent benefitsto the environment. The Sustainability Value Network is an ongoing programmeacross all areas of the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club businesses that Stanelco isproud to be part of now and in the future". - ENDS - For further information please contact: Martin Wagner, Chief Executive Officer Stanelco PLC Tel: +44 (0)2380 867100 Jonathon Brill / Caroline Stewart Financial Dynamics Tel: +44 (0) 207 831 3113 About Stanelco plc The Stanelco Group of companies (the Group) has brought together expertise inradio frequency (RF) technology, RF applications and biodegradable materialsciences to create a revolutionary range of packaging technologies. Stanelco's philosophy is that new products and processes must offer solutionsand applications which: • give higher added value, • are greener, more environmentally sustainable than those they replace • and have protectable intellectual property rights. Stanelco will develop the products and processes to a demonstration stage andthen work with partners in order to reach the markets; and under thesecircumstances Stanelco will usually seek to license its technology. Stanelcoinvests considerable time and resources in ensuring its technologies areprotected via layers of patents wherever possible. In this way Stanelco believes it can minimise commercial risk and preserve thehighest value for shareholders. The products offering the prospect of near term revenue generation are beinggiven priority over the Group's resources. Stanelco was founded in 1953 and is a world leader in the development of radiofrequency technologies for processing polymers for edible and packagingapplications and the design and manufacture of optical fibre technology,induction heating and dielectric welding equipment. Stanelco's Currentdevelopments include GREENSEAL Food tray lidding technology, STARPOL (starch/pvablended material), FrogPack high impact low cost packaging format, CradleWraprange of biodegradable air cushion packaging, Soluble tape, 100% water-solublefilms and adhesives, Biodegradable Airbag (void fill) packaging, water-solubledetergent capsules, edible sachets and waste packing. GREENSEAL, STARPOL, Frog Pack and CradleWrap are all trademarks of the Stanelcoplc group. About Greenseal Stanelco has applied its Radio Frequency sealing platform technology to thewelding of recyclable plastic "mono-materials" for tray lidding andthermoforming, specifically in the food packaging area. In addition to providingsuperior sealing, the process is up to 70% more energy efficient than heatsealing. This process offers substantial financial benefits (up to 20%) to food packhouses, supermarkets and an improved end product for consumers as it sealsthrough liquid, fats and debris. About Starpol 2000 Starpol 2000 is a totally biodegradable packaging material based on sustainablecrop production. It is available in both flexible and rigid forms and is easilythermoformed into food trays and other packaging. Unlike conventional plasticsthe price of Starpol 2000 has little dependence upon oil price. It issubstantially less expensive than most other biodegradable packaging materialsand not significantly greater than conventional plastics. Starpol 2000 has been fully approved for use in food contact applications forall food categories throughout the European Union following analysis and testingcarried out by PIRA International (Packaging International ResearchAssociation). This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange