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Corn + Water + Paper = a Revolutionary Eco-Friendly Coffee Cup

Corn + Water + Paper = a Revolutionary Eco-Friendly Coffee Cup

Published 07-12-06

Submitted by Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, International Paper Unveil Break-through Cup

WATERBURY, Vt. & MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 2006-- Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and International Paper today launched the only all-natural paper hot beverage cup available in consumer outlets nationwide. In a conventional cup, the inner surface is lined with a petroleum-based plastic to prevent leaking. The cup unveiled today is lined with a bio-plastic made from a renewable resource--corn. After use, and under the proper conditions, it will break down into water, carbon dioxide and organic matter.

"For 25 years, we've said that we craft our coffee with care. Now our cups are crafted just as carefully," said T.J. Whalen, vice president of marketing for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. "These cups, made from fully renewable resources, are part of our corporate commitment to environmental stewardship."

"Consumers will notice no difference as they enjoy coffee with this cup--but the environment will," said Austin Lance, VP/GM Foodservice Business of International Paper. "It's the first in what will be a series of ecotainer(TM) products that reflect our company's concern for the environmental footprint we leave behind."

The two companies have been working on the revolutionary cup for more than a year, including a blind market trial of nearly five million cups. Not only does the cup feature an eco-friendly liner, but the material used to create the lining is manufactured in a greenhouse-gas-neutral environment.

"Converting to this cup will mean that we consume nearly a quarter of a million pounds less of non-renewable petrochemical materials every year," said GMCR's Paul Comey, VP, Environmental Affairs. "That's why we think this is such a revolutionary eco-friendly cup."

Details, interviews, photos, b-roll: Contact Sanda Pecina (202) 367-1622 specina@akerpartners.com.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) was recently ranked No. 1 on the Business Ethics list of "100 Best Corporate Citizens." A leader in the specialty coffee industry, it offers more than 100 selections (including Fair Trade Certified, organic coffees) that sell under the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters(R) and Newman's Own(R) Organics brands. More than 2.5 million cups of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters coffee are sold daily. The company annually donates at least 5 percent of pre-tax profits to social and environmental projects. Visit www.GreenMountainCoffee.com.

International Paper (NYSE: IP), which is headquartered in the U.S., has been a leader in the forest products industry for more than 100 years. The company is committed to environmental, economic and social sustainability, and has a long-standing policy of using no wood from endangered forests. Visit www.InternationalPaper.com.

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Copyright Business Wire 2006

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. logo

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

Integration. Commitment. Accountability.

Welcome to the Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig) fiscal 2014 sustainability report. At Keurig, we have blended the disruptive innovation of a leading-edge technology company with the consumer focus of a socially conscious, premium beverage company. We’re proud of our integrity, innovation, and growth over more than three decades. We aim to “brew a better world,” using the power of business to make the world a better place.

This report highlights our most recent sustainability initiatives, including our work toward our 2020 sustainability targets. Our work focuses on three key areas: creating a Resilient Supply Chain, innovation of Sustainable Products, and support for Thriving People and Communities. We’ve created a fourth section of the report this year that addresses Water Stewardship, a cross-cutting topic that spans all of our focus areas. With this report, we are announcing a new target to balance the water used in our 2020 brewed beverage volume of all our beverages, ounce for ounce. In other words, for every cup our consumers brew, we will restore the same amount of water for natural and community uses through projects in North America.

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