Greif Receives 2014 Manufacturing Leadership Sustainability Award

DELAWARE, Ohio, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Greif (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B), a world leader in industrial packaging products and services, has been recognized with the 2014 Manufacturing Leadership Award (ML Award) in Sustainability for its DoubleGreen™ COEX 10-liter plastic jerry can. This is one of the first sustainable multilayer 10-liter plastic jerry cans made from a renewable resource, sugarcane, with a stackable design that eliminates the need for a carton during transport.

The DoubleGreen COEX 10-liter plastic jerry can incorporates polyethylene that is derived from sugarcane ethanol and exceeds 50 percent of the total packaging composition. The DoubleGreen jerry can, produced in Brazil, creates a closed-loop system approach from agribusiness to agribusiness. Based upon the main Brazil agrochemical market volume, the use of sugarcane ethanol is estimated to eliminate CO2 emissions by 1,390 tons annually.

"At Greif, sustainability is an innovation driver. Our goal is to help customers reduce their own environmental footprints with quality industrial packaging. We are honored to be recognized for our dedication to innovating new packaging products derived from one of the world's most renewable resources and that promotes the elimination of extra packaging for transport," said Eduardo Simoniello, vice president and general manager of Greif Latin America. "At Greif we are serious about sustainability and strive to find new ways to use natural resources wisely without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."

Greif's efficient manufacturing process requires less material in the production of the jerry can, reducing its weight for shipping even as it maintains the same compression strength as heavier containers. Its stackable design for shipping directly on transport pallets improves inventory management cost, removes the necessity for printing a duplicate label and optimizes the recycling process. Furthermore, DoubleGreen is UN certified, which means that Greif's customers will not need to worry about managing or paying for the UN Certification process themselves. The elimination of carton packaging is estimated to save 3,643 trees and avoid 23 tons of excess CO2 emissions.

Winners of the ML Awards will be honored on June 5 at a black-tie gala during the 10^th Annual Manufacturing Leadership Summit hosted by Frost & Sullivan, a leading research firm.

About Greif

Greif is a world leader in industrial packaging products and services. The company produces steel, plastic, fibre, flexible, corrugated, multiwall and reconditioned containers, intermediate bulk containers, containerboard and packaging accessories, and provides blending, filling, packaging and industrial packaging reconditioning services for a wide range of industries. Greif also manages timber properties in North America. The company is strategically positioned in more than 50 countries to serve global as well as regional customers. Additional information is on the company's website at www.greif.com. 

Manufacturing Leadership Awards

The Manufacturing Leadership Awards (ML Awards) honor companies and individuals that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Award nominees describe their breakthrough projects using the nomination form. Nominations for breakthrough projects are entered into specific categories and evaluated by a panel of expert judges. Seven of the ML Awards categories are for outstanding projects undertaken and completed by a manufacturing company. Four of the categories recognize the achievements of individual manufacturing executives.

For more information, go to: http://mlawards.gilcommunity.com/

About the Manufacturing Leadership Council

The Manufacturing Leadership Council, part of Frost & Sullivan, is the world's first member-driven, global business leadership network dedicated to senior executives in the manufacturing industry. The Manufacturing Leadership Council's mission is to help senior executives define and shape a better future for themselves, their organizations, and the industry at large. The Council produces an extensive portfolio of leadership networking, information and professional development products, programs, and services -- including the Manufacturing Executive Website, an online global business network with 5,300 members around the world; the Manufacturing Leadership Council, an invitation-only executive organization of over 100 members; the annual Manufacturing Leadership Summit – Bold Ideas for a Better Future; the Manufacturing Leadership Awards, celebrating industry achievement; and the thought-leading Manufacturing Leadership Journal. More information on www.MLCouncil.com.

About Frost & Sullivan   

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, Frost & Sullivan has been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. More information at www.frost.com.

SOURCE Greif