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Cereplast Signs Distribution Agreement with Polimernet Plastik to Expand Its Supply of Bioplastic Resin to the Turkish Market

^{Published on 2011-07-12 05:10:33 - Market Wire}
 

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Cereplast, Inc. (NASDAQ: CERP), a leading manufacturer of proprietary biobased, compostable and sustainable plastics, entered into a distribution agreement with Polimernet Plastik Ltd. (aPolimernet Plastika) to supply Cereplast bioplastic resins to the Turkish market.

"We are excited about our collaborative agreement with Cereplast, as its proprietary compostable resin products are an effective solution for our customers as they seek to meet an alternative to petroleum-based plastic which is harmful to the environment"

"Cereplast has entered into six European distribution agreements in 2011, and this partnership with Polimernet Plastik is a clear indication of the explosive demand for bioplastic resin sweeping across the pan-European marketplace," said Frederic Scheer, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast, Inc. "This is another step in our growth strategy to secure quality distribution partners in key regions, such as Turkey. Turkey is one of the first three countries in Europe who have forged forward with adopting bioplastic material for products and packaging in an attempt to help safeguard the environment.a

Under the terms of the agreement, Polimernet Plastik will supply Cereplast Compostables® resin to product and package manufacturers in Turkey. The contract includes a minimum of 100 tons of Cereplast resin per month for 2011, a number to grow in 2012 and beyond. With 8% GDP growth, Turkey is benefiting from the strongest economic prosperity in Europe, and, in terms of bioplastic market share in Europe, the country ranks third, after Italy and Germany. According to European Plastics, the bioplastics industry in Europe is growing at a rate of roughly 20% each year.

"We are excited about our collaborative agreement with Cereplast, as its proprietary compostable resin products are an effective solution for our customers as they seek to meet an alternative to petroleum-based plastic which is harmful to the environment," said Selim Gven, General Manager at Polimernet Plastik. "We are committed to bringing our clients, in Turkey, the most innovative and highest quality biobased materials for the manufacturing of their products and packaging needs.a

Polimernet Plastik will use the Cereplast Compostable 3000 and the Cereplast Compostable 7003 film grades to produce bioplastic film for garbage bags, food packaging and t-shirt bags. This bioplastic film is designed to have a balance of puncture strength, toughness, and can be processed on existing blown film extrusion machines. Cereplast Compostable 3000 and 7003 are proprietary patented formulations, which includes Ingeo PLA.

About Cereplast, Inc.

Cereplast, Inc. (NASDAQ: CERP) designs and manufactures proprietary biobased, sustainable plastics which are used as substitutes for petroleum-based plastics in all major converting processes - such as injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding and extrusions - at a pricing structure that is competitive with petroleum-based plastics. On the cutting-edge of biobased plastic material development, Cereplast now offers resins to meet a variety of customer demands. Cereplast Compostables® Resins are ideally suited for single use applications where high biobased content and compostability are advantageous, especially in the food service industry. Cereplast Sustainablesa" Resins combine high biobased content with the durability and endurance of traditional plastic, making them ideal for applications in industries such as automotive, consumer electronics and packaging. Learn more at [ www.cereplast.com ]. You may also visit the Cereplast social networking pages at [ Facebook.com/Cereplast ], [ Twitter.com/Cereplast ] and [ Youtube.com/Cereplastinc ].

ABOUT POLIMERNET PLASTIK LTD.

Polimernet Plastik Ltd. (aPolimernet Plastika) is one of the leading companies in Turkey that specializes in polycarbonate water bottle scrap manufacturing. Polimernet Plastika™s proprietary breakthrough three-step cleaning process creates products that are free from contamination, residue and pc dust, providing earth friendly plastics for product manufacturing. Polimernet Plastika™s processing capabilities include sheet extrusion, compounding, injection molding, etc. Polimernet is part of the Nuh Group. For more information, please visit [ www.polimernet.com ].

Safe Harbor Statement

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company.