RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – March 14, 2008 – MeadWestvaco Corp. is now offering converters and consumer products companies around the world an alternative to lightweight coated paperboard. KlaFold, a coated unbleached kraft paperboard manufactured by Klabin, Brazil's largest paperboard producer, is now available from MeadWestvaco as part of the sales and marketing agreement the companies announced in September 2007.

With it's unique three-ply structure, KlaFold paperboard delivers on strength, printability and converting performance, while requiring less fiber than competitive boards. KlaFold is particularly well-suited for lightweight packaging applications and with its innovative structure, KlaFold offers a higher yield at the same caliper as most other coated paperboard in its class.

According to third-party testing conducted by Applied Paper Technology, KlaFold has a 15-25 percent yield advantage and a significant strength-per-pound advantage at a lower basis weight versus most other, competitive coated paperboard grades. The tests compared 13.4pt (220 gsm), 15.6 pt (250 gsm) and 16.9 pt (275 gsm) KlaFold to several major competitive brands. In all cases, KlaFold had a clear advantage with more cartons per ton of paper and greater stiffness per pound. Tests comparing smoothness, brightness and stiffness characteristics of KlaFold versus other paperboards also were conducted, and KlaFold matched or outperformed the competitors across the board.

"The testing proves what we anticipated – KlaFold delivers value and performance," says Sean McDonald, MeadWestvaco's manager of strategic alliances. "It is the perfect paperboard for brand owners who demand high shelf impact, smoothness and printability from their lightweight packaging applications, but also want a great value."

KlaFold is an excellent choice for just about any application, including cosmetics and personal care products, frozen foods, electronics and much more. It also is USFDA and ISEGA compliant for direct food contact and offers sustainability benefits of source reduction and FSC chain-of-custody certification.

A portfolio highlighting the benefits of MeadWestvaco's new KlaFold paperboard is available. The portfolio includes technical and performance information, unprinted product samples and finished package samples that illustrate KlaFold's excellent printing and converting properties. To request a copy of the portfolio, contact Sean McDonald at 804-201-2590 or by email at [email protected].