The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) said it plans to present a GPEC 2010 Environmental Stewardship Award to Associated Packaging Technologies (APT), the Chadds Ford, Pa. -based maker of CPET and RePET™ (recycled PET) food trays.

Officials said APT and eight other plastics industry companies will receive the honor, which recognizes
"Sustainability & Recycling: Raising the Bar in Today's Economy." The award will be presented at the Global Plastics Environmental Conference, March 9 at the Florida Hotel & Conference Center, Orlando, Fla.

"All of us at APT are extremely proud to be recognized in this manner by SPE," notes Mark Staton, the company's CEO. "As the first global thermoformer, in partnership with ConAgra, to bring recycled PET frozen food trays to North America, APT is committed to industry efforts toward sustainability."

Said SPE, "Associated Packaging Technologies, the global leader in thermoformed CPET, now offers products designed with smaller environmental impacts than traditional CPET trays. By engaging a strategic supply partner and implementing innovative process improvements, APT alone can provide a wide variety of CPET trays, designed for direct food contact.

"Using up to 40 percent post consumer recycled PET, APT's RePET trays are suitable for either microwave or conventional oven cooking, while maintaining price parity to traditional CPET trays. In 2009 substitution of virgin PET resin with RPET allowed improved energy optimization and eliminated an estimated 12,910 of CO2E from the environment."

Tony Gallo, CPP, APT's senior director of sustainability and applications development, said, "It is great to be recognized by our peers in SPE. This energizes all of us here at APT to continue working to use more recycled material. Our goal is nothing short of 100 percent recycled content and 100 percent collection."