EPA Recognizes Diamond Packaging For Leading Green Power Purchase

July 30, 2009 - PRLog -- Rochester, NY – Diamond Packaging announced today that it appears on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new Top 20 Printers List of the largest green power purchasers in the commercial printing business.  Diamond Packaging is purchasing more than 6 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 100 percent of the organization's purchased electricity use.  Diamond Packaging is buying a utility green power product from RG&E.

The Top 20 Printers List, which debuted on July 27, is one of nine Top Partner Lists that EPA releases quarterly, highlighting some of America's largest green power purchasers.  Diamond Packaging currently ranks No. 7 on EPA’s Top 20 Printers List.  All of EPA’s Top Partner Lists are available at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists.

This purchase also qualifies Diamond Packaging for EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements.  Green Power Leadership Club members must purchase ten times the partnership’s minimum requirement organization-wide.  

Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro.  These resources generate electricity with a net zero increase in carbon dioxide emissions, while offering a superior environmental profile compared to traditional power generation sources.  Green power purchases also support the development of new renewable energy generation sources nationwide.

"EPA commends our leading partners for their continued commitment to protecting the environment by using green power," said Kathleen Hogan, Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at EPA.  "By supporting green power, Diamond Packaging is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, supporting clean energy technologies, and contributing to a clean energy future."

According to the U.S. EPA, Diamond Packaging's green power purchase of more than 6 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 800 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 600 average American homes annually.

The wind energy purchase is part of Diamond’s greenbox initiative, the company’s commitment to research, design, and implement packaging solutions that are innovative and sustainable.  The core of the initiative – designs, materials, and methods – represents a comprehensive approach to packaging that minimizes environmental impact throughout the supply chain.

About Diamond Packaging
Since 1911, Diamond Packaging has dedicated itself to providing the highest standard of quality, innovation and cost effective packaging solutions for companies including Avon, Bausch & Lomb, Beiersdorf, Coty, Godiva Chocolatier, L’Oreal, and Procter & Gamble.  As part of the Global Packaging Alliance® (GPA), Diamond and its alliance members offer packaging solutions to companies operating on an international scale.  Customers receive responsive, localized service, award-winning creative designs, identical product specifications and consistent brand recognition, resulting in unparalleled worldwide packaging support.

For more information about Diamond Packaging, contact Dennis Bacchetta at (585) 334-8030 x229 or visit the website at http://www.diamondpackaging.com.  For more information about Diamond’s greenbox initiative, visit the sustainability microsite at http://www.diamondpackaging.com/green.

About RG&E
RG&E is a Rochester-based subsidiary of Energy East Corporation, a super-regional energy services and delivery company in the Northeast. RG&E serves 362,000 electricity customers and 299,000 natural gas customers in a nine-county region centered on the City of Rochester.  By providing outstanding customer service and meeting customers’ energy requirements in an environmentally-responsible manner, RG&E will continue to be a valuable asset to the communities it serves. For more information about RG&E, visit http://www.rge.com.

About EPA’s Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use.  The Partnership currently has more than 1,100 Partner organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually.  Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities.  For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.

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Diamond Packaging designs and manufacture innovative paperboard and plastic packaging, counter-top displays, physician sample packaging, blister cards, and dispenser cartons. DCM offers comprehensive contract packaging services.