PITTSBURGH, Pa., Sept. 26, 2007 – Speaking at the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s annual forum here today, Linda J. Fisher, DuPont Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, described DuPont’s focus on business opportunities that help customers respond to growing global demand for renewable energy and materials.

Fisher said that sustainable packaging is becoming increasingly important, driven by evolving consumer awareness, demand from brand owners and retailers and recognition of climate change issues.

“Sustainable packaging is a growing and important focus area for DuPont and is part of the company’s overall commitment to create shareholder and societal value while providing direct, quantifiable environmental benefits for our customers and consumers along our value chains,” she said.

At the conference, DuPont announced that innovations in sustainable packaging will now be a key evaluation criteria in its long-running DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation, now in its 20th year.

“In support of DuPont’s corporate sustainability commitment, the awards will now recognize sustainability achievements in areas such as responsible sourcing, clean production and effective recovery that at the same time continue to meet important performance requirements such as improved freshness, convenience and shelf appeal,” said William F. Weber, global DuPont director for packaging.

DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 18 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment.  The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products, such as sustainable packaging materials, for key global markets.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

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9/26/07

Linda J. Fisher is vice president and chief sustainability officer for DuPont.  She has responsibility for advancing DuPont's progress in achieving sustainable growth; DuPont environmental and health programs; the company's product stewardship programs; and global regulatory affairs.  She joined DuPont in June 2004.  More ...

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) is an industry working group recognized as the definitive resource for credible information about packaging sustainability. SPC is an initiative of GreenBlue.org, a nonprofit institute committed to sustainability by design.

Caption:  The DuPont Sustainable Packaging icon captures key elements of environmentally smart packaging solutions from DuPont that are made with renewable resources, that enable recycling and that help reduce the amount of packaging.

Hi-res image available.