Curwood's Groundbreaking FreshCase® Packaging Wins Top Honors in the DuPont Packaging Awards


FreshCase® packaging for fresh red meat is the first-ever vacuum package that blooms fresh meat and maintains its bright red color throughout an extended shelf life.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin - On the heels of winning an FPA Gold Award for sustainability, FreshCase® packaging for fresh red meat has garnered a Diamond award in the 24th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation. Groundbreaking FreshCase® vacuum packaging solves a decades-long challenge for meat processors by maintaining meat's fresh red appearance throughout an extended shelf life. The DuPont Packaging Awards recognize excellence in innovation, sustainability and waste/cost reduction.

An alternative to expanded polystyrene (EPS) trays with PVC overwrap, FreshCase® packaging offers up to 10 times the shelf life and 75% fewer markdowns and waste than store-wrapped meats. Compared to other case-ready formats, it reduces packaging material up to 75% for lower costs and greater sustainability. FreshCase® packaging is USDA-approved for a shelf life up to 36 days for whole muscle beef and 34 days for ground beef.

"We are excited that FreshCase® packaging is being recognized for the innovation it brings to the meat case," says Derrick Sytsma, Curwood's Vice President of Marketing. "This active material technology took years to develop. It's a game-changing breakthrough for the face of the meat market and opens new possibilities for processors and retailers alike."

Compared to case-ready EPS/PVC packages that are centrally packed, FreshCase® packaging eliminates the aesthetic drawbacks of high-oxygen gas-flushed packaging, such as "black bones." It also eliminates the appearance of excess packaging common with gas-flushed packaging due to the amount of headspace required in MAP packages.

Vacuum-packed FreshCase® packages are hermetically sealed, eliminating the problem of leaky meat packages in the retail case, shopping cart and checkout counter. According to DuPont, FreshCase® packaging addresses the important effort to help ensure food maintains its nutritional value and freshness and greatly reduces food waste from spoilage.

FreshCase® films are available for a range of packaging formats, including vacuum skin packs; ground beef chubs; forming/non-forming film packs; shrink bags; pouches and rigid trays with skin films. Most of these formats allow a 360° view of the meats, giving consumers confidence in what they are purchasing.

The DuPont Packaging Awards is the industry's longest-running, independently judged global packaging awards program honoring packaging materials, processes, technology and service innovations. An expert jury panel for the competition evaluated more than 200 entries from around the world and awarded Curwood the only Diamond Award. Five gold winners and 10 silver winners were also awarded.

Known throughout the world for technological leadership in high-barrier packaging, Curwood is a preferred supplier of innovative packaging materials and systems for food, beverage, household, industrial and personal care industries. Curwood maintains strategic manufacturing and service centers throughout North America, South America and Europe, and is well positioned to meet global distribution and marketing needs. Headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Curwood is part of the Bemis family of companies.

For more information on Curwood's complete offering, call Curwood customer service at
(800) 544-4672, email curwood@bemis.com or visit www.CurwoodInnovates.com and www.curwood.com.

Bemis Company is a major supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials used by leading food, consumer products, healthcare and other companies worldwide. Founded in 1858, the Company is included in the S&P 500 index of stocks and reported 2011 net sales of $5.3 billion. The Company's flexible packaging business has a strong technical base in polymer chemistry, film extrusion, coating and laminating, printing and converting. Headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, Bemis employs approximately 20,000 individuals worldwide. More information about the Company is available at our website, www.bemis.com.

Media Contact:

Burian

Bemis Company, Inc.

(920) 527-7344

dpburian@bemis.com

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