[9]The Penta Water Company, a Carlsbad, CA, company offering anti-oxidant-enhanced water nationwide, has turned to one of nature's more prolific resources for its new packaging. In collaboration with Earth First Packaging (www.earthfirstpackaging.com [10]), Penta relates that it is the first company in the bottled water industry to convert its biaxially oriented polypropylene labels to ThermoStone™ limestone-based material.

An environmentally friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials, ThrmoStone is said to eliminate all BOPP and pulp-based material from the label and is 100% recyclable and degradable. "ThermoStone is made with a patented process that creates a bright white sheet that prints well, is machine-ready, and is perfect for the natural products industry—and industry-leader Penta," said Mac Hanger of Earth First Packaging.

By converting its labels to this limestone-based product, Penta notes that it will enhance its commitment to the environment by utilizing a product that eliminates use of trees, bleach, oil, and formaldehyde and greatly reduces the use of water during the manufacturing process. The labels require less energy to produce than those using polyvinyl chloride or plastic, resulting in lower carbon emissions and a smaller environmental footprint.

"Penta is committed to keeping our environment as clean as our water, and we embrace the opportunity to lead the industry by incorporating Earth First's ThermoStone labels," says Rita Konrad, Penta's director of sales and marketing. "In addition to the environmentally friendly elements of the manufacturing process, the recyclable and degradable aspects of the label ensure we are decreasing pressure on our nation's landfills."