EPA Recognizes Zotos International Inc. Among Nation's Leading Users of On-Site Green Power

GENEVA, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zotos International Inc. announced today that it has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Green Power Partnership and appears as No. 18 on EPA's Top 20 On-Site Generation list. Zotos International is expected to generate 6.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity from two on-site wind turbines, which is enough green power to meet 50 percent of the organization's electricity use. By producing green power on-site, Zotos International demonstrates a proactive choice to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives.

This week, EPA updated each of its National Top Partner lists, highlighting some of America's largest green power users. Each list highlights EPA Green Power Partners with the largest annual voluntary purchases and/or on-site usage through January 5, 2011. EPA updates its Top Partner Lists quarterly at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists.

"This is a huge honor and we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," said Anthony Perdigao, Zotos Chief Sustainability Officer. "Generating green power helps our organization become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the U.S. that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk."

Zotos International's green power use qualifies them for EPA's Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA's minimum green power use requirements. Green Power Leadership Club members must use 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 and low-impact hydro. On-site green power is deployed directly at energy users' facilities rather than at central power plants. Green power electricity generates less pollution than conventional power and produces no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

"EPA's Green Power partners are tapping into America's growing clean energy market and powering the economy of the future," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson on Tuesday.  "Investments like these are smart for business, foster growth in the green energy sector and help protect our health through cleaner air."

According to the U.S. EPA, Zotos International's expected green power use of 6.5 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 900 passenger vehicles per year, or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than 500 average American homes annually.

In an effort to implement the largest private industrial sustainability program in the nation, Zotos has also launched its carbon offset program. Working with Verus Carbon Neutral, Zotos will offset 100 percent of its Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its manufacturing facility in Geneva, New York. The company is also planning to reduce its packaging-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than 75 percent using new packaging created from a hybrid bioplastic resin.

About Zotos International Inc.

Zotos International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Shiseido International Corporation, is a professional beauty industry leader that manufactures and markets a full range of hair care, texture service and hair color options for today's salons and salon professionals under the Zotos, JOICO, ISO, Senscience, and Bain de Terre brand names, among others.

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 electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 1,300 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 www.epa.gov/greenpower.

SOURCE Zotos International Inc.