Smart Planet Technologies announces engineering breakthrough in compostable coatings with EarthCoating Compostable

The development of a high-performance compostable and recyclable barrier coating to replace traditional polyethylene coatings March 31, 2015 - Newport Beach CA - Smart Planet Technologies, Inc., a leader in engineering of innovative barrier coatings that address sustainability challenges in packaging, announce a breakthrough in engineering with EarthCoating Compostable, a mineralized compostable resin for extrusion-coating onto paperboards.

Traditionally, food service packaging such as hot/cold cups, ice cream containers, frozen food cartons and food trays, are coated with 100% polyethylene and similar materials for barrier properties to moisture, oils, grease and fatty acids. Paperboards with these legacy coatings are poor candidates for recycling and generally destined for a landfill. Compostable resin coatings, which can be composted in industrial composting facilities, have risen recently as a sustainable option to traditional polyethylene coatings. However, adoption has been limited because of increased cost, inferior barrier performance, production challenges, and limited availability of municipal composting facilities. Further, these coatings have failed to address the need for recyclability.

EarthCoating Compostable is a mineralized compostable resin formulation, using minerals to displace 35% of the plastic content, with the mineral blend engineered to alter the performance and behavior of the resin to achieve marked improvements that address the challenges with compostable resins. As with other formulations of EarthCoating, the mineral content allows for successful processing of the coated paperboard in paper recycling streams.

EarthCoating Compostable has the following advantages over traditional compostable resin coatings:

• EarthCoating Compostable contains 40% minerals, which lowers cost and reduces polymer content.

• EarthCoating Compostable has excellent machinability. The mineral content improves production line speeds and allows for lower coatweights than traditional compostable resins.

• The barrier performance of EarthCoating Compostable is comparable to that of polyethylene at equivalent coatweights.

• EarthCoating Compostable is heat sealable, making it suitable for formed cup applications.

• EarthCoating Compostable is engineered for recyclability in paper recycling streams.

Paperboards with EarthCoating Compostable technology offer a compostable and recyclable option for the approximately 1.3 million tons of 100% polyethylene-coated paper cup and folding carton material produced annually in the US.

Commercial availability of EarthCoating Compostable is planned to be announced in the near future.

About Smart Planet Technologies:

Smart Planet Technologies is a packaging technology company with intellectual property focused on advancements in sustainability for the packaging industry. Our innovative technologies are engineered to conserve precious natural resources and provide high quality, environmental alternatives across a wide variety of packaging applications. EarthCoating is a registered trademark of Smart Planet Technologies. For more information, please visit our website at www.SmartPlanetTech.com

Monadnock Paper Mills and Smart Planet Technologies Enter Strategic Partnership in Labeling Technology

Bennington, NH – December 3, 2014 - Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Smart Planet Technologies for use of its extruded EarthCoating® technology for adhesive beverage labels in North America. “We are pleased to be expanding our Envi Portfolio® of products through our partnership with Smart Planet Technologies,” said Richard Verney, Chairman and CEO of Monadnock.  “As consumers become more eco-conscious with a continued push to reduce plastic in packaged goods, and while brand owners look for improved performance in labels, the timing is perfect for this new extension to the Envi line.”

EarthCoating, when used as a plastic lamination replacement, provides a unique option for demanding wet label applications.  Cost effective EarthCoating minerals enhance fiber bonding strength and surface tack with pressure-sensitive and other adhesives used in beverage labeling.

“Monadnock is a leader providing premium, cost effective, and environmentally advanced products to the label converting industry. Their innovative culture is very exciting and we look forward to a long term technology partnership" says Chris Tilton, Chief Technology Officer of Smart Planet.

About Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc.

Monadnock Paper Mills (MPM) provides and custom engineers a diverse range of products including technical/specialty papers, and premium printing and packaging papers for leading brands worldwide. Working as a true partner with its customers, Monadnock’s technical expertise and agility result in products that lead the market in innovation and quality. With a passion for the environment and ingenuity, Monadnock turns ideas into reality. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.mpm.com, or connect via Twitter @MonadnockPaper, LinkedIn or Facebook.

About Smart Planet Technologies, Inc.

Smart Planet Technologies is a packaging materials technology company with intellectual property focused on advancements in sustainability for the packaging industry.   Our innovative patent and pending technologies are engineered to 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

Media contact:

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc.

Lisa Hardin Berghaus

Manager of Marketing Communications

Phone: +1 603 588 8273

lberghaus@mpm.com

International Print and Packaging to offer recyclable paper cups and other food service packaging using EarthCoating®

October 14, 2014 -- Newport Beach, CA -- International Print & Packaging, a distribution company located in Anaheim, CA, have expanded their line of environmentally sensitive packaging and promotional items to include recyclable paper cups and packaging with direct food contact using EarthCoating, providing their customers the opportunity to advance their sustainability goals.  Recyclable cups and packaging can be ordered through International Print & Packaging at www.ippgreen.com.   Traditionally, food service packaging such as hot/cold cups, ice cream containers, frozen food cartons and food trays are coated with 100% polyethylene and similar materials for barrier properties to moisture, oils, grease and fatty acids. Paperboards with these legacy coatings are poor candidates for recycling and generally destined for a landfill.   However, paper cups with EarthCoating provide great potential for post-consumer recyclability. The materials with EarthCoating do not require any special processing and are fully recyclable when collected. Paperboards with EarthCoating technology offer a recyclable alternative for the approximately 700,000 tons of 100% polyethylene-coated paper cup material produced annually in the US.   Recyclable paperboard with EarthCoating is a technology engineered by Smart Planet Technologies. EarthCoating is a registered trademark of Smart Planet Technologies.   About International Print & Packaging: International Print & Packaging supports your custom packaging, label, print, design and graphic needs, combining professional custom packaging and printing experience with the commitment to build long-term relationships with each and every one of our clients.   About Smart Planet Technologies: Smart Planet Technologies is a packaging technology company with intellectual property focused on advancements in sustainability for the packaging industry. Our innovative technologies are engineered to 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   To order recyclable paper cups with EarthCoating from International Print & Packaging, please visit http://www.ippgreen.com

BASF and Smart Planet Technologies target strategic partnership

Focus on Smart Planet Technologies` mineralized coating technology, EarthCoating® Ludwigshafen, Germany and Newport Beach, California – September 30, 2014 – BASF and Smart Planet Technologies are currently discussing a possible strategic partnership concerning the mineralized coating technology, EarthCoating®, for paper packaging applications. EarthCoating is a sustainable and cost efficient alternative to traditional extrusion applied coatings providing excellent barrier and heat seal performance and focusing on improving the recyclability of the packaging. It is engineered for processing within the traditional paper recycling infrastructure and can for example be used for folding cartons, detergent boxes, paper cups, paper plates, etc..

“EarthCoating is a long-awaited breakthrough technology for the packaging industry. A strategic partnership with BASF greatly advances the opportunities for the packaging industry to leverage EarthCoating towards greater sustainability in packaging applications,” said Will Lorenzi, President of Smart Planet Technologies.

“The search for more sustainable coating solutions has been growing in recent years and has become a priority for many companies involved in the paper packaging industry,” added Christian Schulz, Vice President, Center for Sustainable Paper Packaging within BASF.

By forming the Center for Sustainable Paper Packaging (CSPP) in 2013 BASF has committed itself to address these industry needs.

About BASF At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com

About Smart Planet Technologies Smart Planet Technologies is a packaging technology company with intellectual property focused on advancements in sustainability for the packaging industry. Our innovative technologies are focused on conserving 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

Media contacts BASF Andrea Hoerdt Global Communications Paper Chemicals Division Phone: +41 61 636 0644 andrea.hoerdt@basf.com

Smart Planet Technologies, Inc. Todd Gasparik Director of Marketing Phone: +1 949 610 7063 marketing@smartplanettech.com

Smart Planet Technologies and Printwinner announce breakthrough in sustainability in packaging with commercial availability of paper cups with EarthCoating

Paper Cups achieve success in recyclability testing while reducing plastic content Newport Beach, CA, August 11, 2014 – Smart Planet Technologies, Inc., a leader in innovative materials that address sustainability challenges in packaging, and Printwinner, a printing and packaging distribution company,  announce commercial availability of paper hot cups using EarthCoating®.   The cups can be ordered through PrintWinner’s website at www.printwinner.com.

EarthCoating is a highly mineralized coating providing high barrier and heat seal performance while containing 40% less plastic than traditional 100% polyethylene coatings.  EarthCoating is engineered for processing within the traditional paper recycling infrastructure.  Paper cups with EarthCoating with select specifications have successfully completed recyclability and repulpability testing at Georgia Tech’s Institute of Paper Science and Technology, and the Newark Recycling Group.

Traditionally, paper cups and packaging used for hot drinks, cold drinks, and ice cream, have been coated with 100% polyethylene and similar materials. The legacy coatings on paperboards are poor candidates for recycling and often destined for the landfill.   Paper cups with EarthCoating provide great potential for post-consumer recyclability.  Paperboards with EarthCoating technology offer a recyclable alternative for the approximately 700,000 tons of 100% polyethylene-coated paper cup material produced in the US annually.

Recycling collection pilots are being planned such that specific packages can be labeled recyclable subject to FTC Green Guide stipulations.  In addition, cup manufacturing companies can commercially recycle their trimmings, resulting in additional economic and environmental advantages at the point of manufacture.  Newark is actively seeking paperboard materials with EarthCoating from both pre- and post-consumer collections.

“The use of EarthCoating tackles the long standing challenge to find a recyclable material for paper cups.  I believe this to be the technology breakthrough sought by all environmentally conscious retailers, such as coffee shops and other food service providers.  EarthCoating continues to prove itself as a superior technology to 100% polyethylene in applications that require high performance heat seal and barrier requirements,” 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 on conserving 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, Director of Marketing, Smart Planet Technologies at marketing@smartplanettech.com

To order paper hot cups with EarthCoating from Printwinner, go to http://www.printwinner.com