Chef Robert Irvine To Highlight Plastics And Sustainability At Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- To highlight the vital role plastics play in food preparation, packaging and sustainability, Plastics Make it Possible^® is teaming up with world-renowned chef and television personality Robert Irvine at this year's Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE. In live demonstrations at the Plastics Make it Possible^® booth, Irvine will showcase the plastic packaging, cooking tools and storage containers that help both pro and amateur chefs do more with less in the kitchen—especially during the busy holiday entertaining season.

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Plastic cooking tools such as spatulas, cutting boards, and mixing bowls help make food prep quicker and easier, and airtight plastic storage containers help keep leftovers fresher longer to save food. Innovations in minimalist packaging made with plastics help reduce food waste and leave a lighter environmental footprint, which contributes to sustainability. And plastics recycling continues to expand, along with kitchen products made with recycled plastics that help close the recycling loop.

"I'm thrilled to partner with Plastics Make it Possible^® to give home chefs tips on how plastics can help make preparing a holiday meal easier and less time consuming," Irvine said. "Plastic packaging, cooking tools and storage containers are indispensable in any kitchen, and I rely on them every day to prepare classic dishes and create new recipes. I also try to keep sustainability in mind when I'm cooking by seeking out kitchen products made with reusable and recyclable plastics, which help me and my kitchen do our part in reducing waste."

To encourage recycling at the event and beyond, The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival has chosen Plastics Make it Possible^® as the official Recycling and Sustainability Partner for this year. Plastics Make it Possible^® will help coordinate the onsite collection of recyclable plastics and other materials, supply recycling bins, and train the recycling station staff. Plastics Make it Possible^® and the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival  are working with Grow NYC, a non-profit organization that works to improve the quality of life in New York City through environmental programs, to raise awareness about the importance of plastics recycling among event guests.

"Robert Irvine is the perfect partner to highlight the many ways plastics can simplify holiday food prep while helping us contribute to sustainability," said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council, which sponsors the Plastics Make it Possible^® initiative. "We hope our partnership with Robert at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival will inspire people to recycle more plastics and seek out more recycled plastic products for their homes."

To enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of Robert Irvine's latest cookbook, plus a prize package of plastic kitchen tools valued at $250, click here.

Celebrating its sixth year October 17­–20, the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE has raised more than $6 million to date to benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® campaign. The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival brings together everyone's favorite celebrity chefs, renowned culinary icons, winemakers, and spirits producers to Eat. Drink. End Hunger! Tickets and more information can be found at www.nycwff.org.

Chef Robert Irvine brings more than 25 years of experience to The Food Network as host of Restaurant: Impossible, and he has previously been seen on Dinner: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, and The Next Iron Chef. A native of England, Robert joined the British Royal Navy at the age of 15, and his skills in the kitchen soon came to the attention of his superiors. As part of his service for the Royal Navy, Robert was selected to work on board the Royal Yacht Britannia, where the Royal Family and their entourages regularly dined. During his time training U.S. Navy chefs as part of a guest chef program, Robert worked in White House kitchens, and his creations were served to high-ranking government officials. During his career, he has also had the opportunity to serve 6,000 servicemen and women on a U.S. aircraft carrier and plan the menu for a celebrity-studded after-party at the Academy awards. Robert is the author of two cookbooks, "Mission: Cook!" (Harper Collins, 2007) and "Impossible to Easy" (Harper Collins, 2010).

For more information on how plastics help contribute to sustainability in the kitchen, click here.

About Plastics Make it Possible^®
Plastics Make it Possible^® highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems, and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by America's Plastics Makers^TM of the American Chemistry Council. For more information, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com, check out our Facebook page and follow us @plasticpossible on Twitter at www.twitter.com/plasticpossible.

http://www.americanchemistry.com

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care^®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $760 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is the largest exporting sector in the U.S., accounting for 12 percent of U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

Contact: Jennifer Killinger (202) 249-6619
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Plastics Make it Possible