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Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions and Smart Planet Technologies Announce Strategic Collaboration
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Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions and Smart Planet Technologies Announce Strategic Collaboration
Newport Beach, CA, February 25, 2014 – Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions and Smart Planet Technologies, Inc., announce a strategic collaboration to evaluate the use of Smart Planet Technologies’ EarthCoating technology in recyclable barrier paperboard solutions.
Traditionally, barrier packaging materials used in forming hot/cold paper cups, ice cream containers, and folding cartons coated with 100% polyethylene or similar materials, are poor candidates for recycling, with low value if reclaimed, and often destined for the landfill. Smart Planet Technologies is working with Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions to confirm that select grades of paperboard, can be commercially recycled as light and heavy print bleached board cuttings, thus providing significant economic and environmental gains. In addition, this solution provides great potential for the post-consumer recyclability of barrier-coated packaging.
EarthCoating technology may offer a recyclable solution for the approximately two million tons of 100% polyethylene-coated boards produced in the US annually. Upon confirmation of EarthCoating’s recyclability, Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions plans to lead the promotion and acceptance of the materials as recyclable within the recycling industry.
“EarthCoating holds the potential to address the long-standing challenge in the difficulty of processing paperboards with 100% polyethylene in the recycling stream,” says Johnny Gold, Senior Vice President at Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions. The rates of recycling of folding cartons, paper cups, and corrugated materials all stand to benefit from this technology. If the pilot runs prove successful, this will be an exciting development for the recycling industry,” says Gold.
“EarthCoating is engineered for improved processing in the recycling process,” says Chris Tilton, Chief Technology Officer of Smart Planet Technologies. “Coated paperboards that traditionally have been undesirable for recyclers can become premium reclaimed materials. We appreciate the willingness of Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions to evaluate and potentially promote the recyclability of paperboard coated with EarthCoating,” says Tilton.
About Smart Planet Technologies: Smart Planet Technologies is a materials intellectual property company focused on sustainability for the packaging industry. Our innovative technologies are focused to conserve precious natural resources and provide high quality, environmental alternatives across a wide variety of packaging applications. Smart Planet Technologies is a partner with Standridge Color Corporation of Social Circle, GA in the commercial availability of EarthCoating.
Contact: Todd Gasparik Phone: +1-949-610-7063 Email: todd@smartplanettech.com
About Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions: Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions is a leader in integrated manufacturing of 100 percent recycled paperboard and paperboard products in the U.S. and Canada. The Company supplies the raw material used to produce products, making it a self-sustaining, environmentally sound company. Newark serves a diverse market, offering raw materials to finished products. It is committed to providing customers with customized innovative products and superior customer service. Privately held for 100 years, Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions is headquartered in Cranford, NJ, employs more than 1,500 and operates 34 facilities. It is a member of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC), an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.
Contact: Susanne Batchelor Phone: +1-732-352-4138 Email: sbatchelor@tngus.com
Spark of Innovation: An Interview with Christopher Tilton
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Smart Planet Technologies is an intellectual property company focused on developing sustainable high-quality packaging materials.
• What project/research are you working on? Our primary focus is to develop recyclable, environmentally ethical alternative packaging materials. This is accomplished by replacing the plastic coating with mineral composites. By removing the plastic contamination from the packaging, they become 100 percent recyclable.
• What is your specific role in moving this project/research forward? My role includes developing, patenting and commercializing our core materials technology. I also work closely with our licensees’ engineers and manufacturing staff to support the implementation of our technology into existing industrial packaging plants.
• What would be the most successful outcome of your work, and what impact would it have on how we live? Billions of plastic-coated packages are sent to landfills every year. Unlike organic materials, which get broken down naturally by bacteria, plastic will remain in these fills for centuries. For example, coffee cups have plastic coatings that protect the paper from leaking and help seal the cup seams. Our research has developed low-cost, easily scalable materials that greatly reduce and replace the plastic contaminants with natural minerals. The mineral content allows the coatings to become compatible to the paper-recycling stream. Therefore, it is now possible to recycle billions of hot and cold cups rather than sending them off to landfills.
• What about this project is important to you personally? I now have the opportunity to provide the world with a material that can drastically improve the quality of our lives and the longevity of our planet. The most important aspect of my work is making sure I leave behind a legacy of innovation and ingenuity that will benefit my children’s world and help build a brighter future through the advancement of science and technology.
• What is the very best part of your job – when do you feel the most satisfaction?From supporting environmentally conscious companies in their efforts to take advantage of our technology.
• Why did you choose this career? As I began to understand the complexity of packaging, I realized that it is a great platform for innovation.
• Who or what inspired you to study in your field? The alarming truth is that almost every single product we buy comes in some type of packaging, and vast amounts of energy and resources are used to manufacture and dispose of packaging materials. My greatest inspiration is seeing my work and innovation combat these issues and offer real benefits to society.
• What makes you particularly well-suited to this work? I am stubborn. I, like most material scientists, have technical knowledge and engineering skills. However, it has been my willingness to try, fail and try again that has allowed me to achieve so much success.
• Where did you go to college? I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with studies in Business and Agricultural Science. I was a Distinguished Military Science graduate and started my career as an Army officer.
• During high school and college, which courses helped best prepare you for your current position? My science and math courses were extremely interesting to me and contributed to my success. Also, the discipline and rigor of military training has proved to be invaluable throughout my career.
• What is the best advice you received that has helped further your career? Try to focus on work that you enjoy. Also, recognize that time, work and effort are needed to become proficient. Be willing to make the commitment necessary to the field you find most interesting, and become a subject-matter expert.
• What advice would you give, particularly to the student who may think math, science or engineering are “too hard” for him or her? Science is not easy; it takes commitment and hard work. I challenge students to be honest with themselves and recognize that they are more than capable, given an honest effort. It seems so easy just to avoid the “hard” classes and majors at school. But if you do, you’ll be closing the doorway to an exciting, rewarding and fulfilling career.
Smart Planet Technologies introduces EarthLabel solution for adhesive label applications
Newport Beach, CA, December 20, 2013 - Smart Planet Technologies, Inc., a leader in innovative materials that address sustainability challenges in packaging, today announces the marketplace introduction of EarthLabel™, a solution for use in adhesive label applications. EarthLabel is an adhesive label utilizing a barrier coating between the paper and adhesive, providing a protective moisture barrier for wet conditions. EarthLabel incorporates EarthCoating®, a superior barrier coating to 100% polyethylene, providing improved barrier performance while reducing plastic content. White Wine bottles and Beer bottles are optimal applications for EarthLabel, as the barrier layer is needed to protect the underlying adhesive across the entire label in wet conditions.
EarthLabel was developed for use by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, as they sought a solution to provide protection for their white wine labels in wet conditions.
“Our Snoqualmie brand is a great fit for the EarthLabel”, says Les Wallace, Packaging Manager for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “The 100% PCW paper in combination with the Smart Planet EarthCoating delivers a high quality pressure-sensitive (self-adhesive) label material that will meet key performance requirements for our Snoqualmie wines regardless of the storage conditions. On the shelf, in a fridge, water or ice, we know the labels are going to look great. Our current plan is to transition to the EarthLabel material in the first quarter of 2014”, says Wallace.
“EarthCoating continues to prove itself as a superior technology to 100% polyethylene in various barrier coating applications. We applaud Ste. Michelle Wine Estates for their involvement and support in adopting this breakthrough technology to improve performance and the environmental footprint of their white wine labels”, says Chris Tilton, Chief Technology Officer of Smart Planet Technologies.
About Smart Planet Technologies
Smart Planet Technologies is a materials intellectual property company focused on sustainability for the packaging industry. Our innovative technologies are focused to conserve precious natural resources and provide high quality, environmental alternatives across a wide variety of packaging applications. Smart Planet Technologies is a partner with Standridge Color Corporation of Social Circle, GA in the commercial availability of EarthCoating. For more information, please visit our website at www.SmartPlanetTech.com
Contact Smart Planet Technologies:
Todd Gasparik, Director of Business Development, Smart Planet Technologies, Inc.
About Snoqualmie Winery
Snoqualmie winery, named after the mountain pass that serves as the gateway to Washington wine country, has been making wines that reflect the balance and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest for more than two decades. It is Snoqualmie Winemaker Joy Andersen’s belief that taking good care of vineyards and local environment are essential steps towards advancing the natural quality of the Northwest and to making the best wines possible. All of Snoqualmie’s wines are made using sustainable and organic practices and each tier is designed to showcase the best winemaking techniques and vineyard selections. Additionally, Snoqualmie was one of first wineries in the state to craft wines from USDA-certified organically grown grapes from which our Naked tier is exclusively developed. Today, Snoqualmie has the largest certified organic vineyard in the state.
Contact Chateau Ste. Michelle:
Lynda Eller, Director of Communications, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Lynda.Eller@smwe.com
Smart Planet Technologies Signs License Agreement with Intellectual Ventures
Newport Beach, CA and Bellevue, WA, September 13, 2013 - Smart Planet Technologies, Inc., a leader in innovative coatings that address sustainability challenges in packaging, today announced that it has entered into an intellectual property license agreement with the Invention Development Fund of Intellectual Ventures (IV®). The two companies will collaborate on sourcing, licensing, and commercializing new technologies related to sustainable packaging.
“Through our collaboration with Intellectual Ventures, we can accelerate our objective of being a leading provider of innovation in materials that address the sustainability goals for the packaging industry,” said Will Lorenzi, President of Smart Planet Technologies. "As the leading global specialist in intellectual property development and commercialization, Intellectual Ventures will help Smart Planet Technologies broaden its IP portfolio as well as enlarge the global footprint of customers for our unique and market-changing packaging solutions."
"Smart Planet’s environmentally friendly packaging technology is the best in the business," said Chris Alliegro, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Invention Development Fund at Intellectual Ventures. "Leading paper, packaging, food and beverage companies have now recognized the improved environmental footprint and recyclability of packaging materials that utilize the Smart Planet coating technology. By leveraging the invention network from Intellectual Ventures, Smart Planet expands its technology portfolio as a leading solution provider for innovation for the packaging industry. This agreement is the latest in a series of transactions Intellectual Ventures has executed with new and innovative companies, helping us bring our inventions to a variety of new industries.”
The agreement provides Smart Planet Technologies with the opportunity to license and commercialize IP and technologies from the Invention Development Fund’s portfolio of packaging related inventions and patents created with its network of more than 4,000 inventors – including individual inventors and inventors from government labs, research institutions, corporations and universities.
About Intellectual Ventures
Founded in 2000, Intellectual Ventures (IV) is the global leader in the business of invention. IV collaborates with leading inventors, partners with pioneering companies, and invests both expertise and capital in the process of invention. IV’s mission is to energize and streamline an invention economy that will drive innovation around the world. For more information, please visit www.intellectualventures.com, follow IV on Twitter at @IVinvents and “like” IV on Facebook at facebook.com/intven.
About Smart Planet Technologies
Smart Planet Technologies is a materials intellectual property company focused on sustainability for the packaging industry. Through innovation, our technologies conserve precious natural resources and provide high quality, environmental alternatives across a wide variety of packaging applications. For more information, please visit our website at www.SmartPlanetTech.com
Contact Smart Planet Technologies:
Todd Gasparik, Smart Planet Technologies
For further information about Intellectual Ventures, contact:
For press inquiries, please contact press@intven.com. For all other inquiries, please contact info@intven.com or follow IV on Twitter at @IVinvents.