Biosphere Industries and Sealed Air Honored for Top Sustainable Packaging Innovation in 2008

Renew-a-Pak™ Biodegradable Trays and Pans Awarded 3M Sustainable Packaging Award

Product Recognized for Its Combined Environmental, Convenience and Cost Saving Performance Features

CARPINTERIA, CALIF. and ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., March 11, 2009 – Proving once again that good sustainable practices not only benefit the environment, but can help customers save money and improve operating efficiencies, Biosphere Industries and Sealed Air announced that the Renew-a-Pak™ compostable rigid packaging for bakeries has been recognized by the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IOPP) as the top sustainable innovation for 2008.

One of the first products of its kind manufactured from yearly renewable starch materials, such as tapioca, Renew-a-Pak rigid bake ware is being honored with this year’s 3M Sustainable Packaging Award, part of the IOPP’s Ameristar competition.

The Renew-a-Pak innovation also won a 2008 Ameristar Food Category Award. The packaging products are offered as part of a venture between Sealed Air and Biosphere Industries, LLC.

The line of products for bakeries includes muffin, pie and bread pans and tart/dessert trays in addition to pizza trays– all providing several environmental benefits, including following the natural decomposing cycle as many starch based foods have without compromising functionality. The Renew-a-Pak products are naturally biodegradable in 40 days or less in the presence of moisture or within 10 days or less in an industrial compost environment. The products also can be disposed of in the paper recycling stream if composting is not an available option.

But what makes the Renew-a-Pak products truly sustainable are the performance and convenience attributes. The use of Renew-a-Pak rigid packaging has been proven to improve efficiency of operations and produce labor savings:

• Items can be cooked, packaged, merchandized, served and reheated in the same pack
• Dual ovenable – consumers can reheat the package in microwave or oven
• Eliminates cost of water and energy used to wash dishes and trays

“Our business is built on the premise that being good to the environment does not necessarily mean you have to sacrifice cost or performance. With Renew-a-Pak™ products, we can demonstrate to customers how you can be good to the planet, good to yourself, and good to the bottom-line,” said Elie Helou, Chief Executive Officer of Biosphere™ Industries LLC. “We describe this as being ‘blue’…a step beyond ‘green’.”

Biosphere and Sealed Air submitted a bread package that demonstrated its efforts with Whole Foods Market® as part of its awards entry. The three companies are working together to provide Whole Foods Market’s customers a package that is environmentally friendly and also provides them with cost savings in the process. In addition to bread pans, Whole Foods Market is evaluating Renew-a-Pak pie pans.

In addition to the line of bake ware, the Renew-a-Pak family of products being developed includes pizza trays and school lunch trays. Biosphere is also developing applications for industrial packaging as well as food service dishes such as plates, bowls and cups. Additionally, with Sealed Air’s expertise, complete turn key solutions from shrink films to equipment solutions can be offered.

Mary Coventry, Sealed Air’s Vice President of Communications, stated that “Over the past several years, Sealed Air has broadened its environmental efforts to include investing in the development of products made from renewable resources. Our goal is to have a broad portfolio of sustainable products and to help our customers and our customers’ customers make informed decisions as it relates to the environment and packaging.”

About Biosphere
Biosphere Industries was founded in 2002 to develop an earth friendly technology for single use disposable rigid packaging systems. In 2006, Biosphere Industries LLC joined forces with Sealed Air Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of food and protective packaging materials and systems. For more information about Biosphere Industries, please visit the Company’s web site at www.biosphereindustries.com.

About Sealed Air
Sealed Air is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of a wide range of packaging and performance-based materials and equipment systems that serve an array of food, industrial, medical, and consumer applications. Operating in 52 countries, Sealed Air's international reach generated revenue of $4.8 billion in 2008. With widely recognized brands such as Bubble Wrap® cushioning, Jiffy® protective mailers, Instapak® foam-in-place systems and Cryovac® packaging technology, Sealed Air continues to identify new trends, foster new markets, and deliver innovative solutions to its customers. For more information about Sealed Air, please visit the Company's web site at www.sealedair.com.

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