(Boston, MA, August 11, 2008) – Curtis Packaging, a private, family-owned, luxury packaging company has been approved as a Ceres network company by the Ceres board of directors. The board cited the company's focus on sustainable packaging and established leadership in the industry. Curtis Packaging is the first packaging company to join Ceres, a leading coalition of investors, environmental groups and public interest organizations working with companies to address sustainability challenges, and is among more than 70 companies in the Ceres network, including over 25 Fortune-500 companies.
 
As a result of the company's focus on environmentally responsible packaging, Curtis Packaging has recently established a leadership position in the industry, resulting in doubled sales in the past five years.
 
"We are very proud of the opportunity to be part of the Ceres network," said Don Droppo, Jr., Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, "Curtis is committed to joining a coalition working toward greater sustainability transparency and standardized reporting initiatives."
 
Curtis Packaging has made significant commitments to reduce the company's own environmental footprint. Through innovative products including environmentally friendly alternatives to foil lamination and film lamination, the company prevented thousands of tons of foil from entering landfills. In 2007, Curtis Packaging became the first packaging company in North America to be 100% carbon neutral.
 
"Ceres is excited to work with Curtis Packaging on their sustainability reporting," said Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres. "The company has a proven record of sustainability and Ceres is dedicated to helping the company build on its success and make even more progress on its efforts in the future."
 
Curtis Packaging published their first sustainability report this year (for their fiscal 2007) and hope to engage the Ceres network to learn best practices on sustainability reporting and advance their own performance. Companies that join Ceres must make continuous strides in improving their sustainability performance and reporting practices by engaging with investors, environmental groups, and other stakeholders.