CONTACT:
Mike Skinner, CFO
GP Plastics Corporation
Ph: 972-481-3050
Fax: 972-481-3075
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www.gp-plastics.com
                                                                                  


Eco-Friendly Plastic Newspaper Bags

Publishers Offered New “PolyGreen” Solution

Dallas, TX -- Feb 22, 2008 -- The leading manufacturer of polyethylene bags for the newspaper industry unveiled a degradable product  amid continuing nationwide debate over banning or taxing plastics bags.

For the first time, newspapers will be given the option of delivering  oxo-biodegradable, environmentally friendly plastic bags.

Officials of Dallas based GP Plastics Corporation said that an announcement in March of 2007, that San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors had passed a law requiring large supermarkets and drug stores to provide only biodegradable or recyclable plastic or paper bags; and also that the supervisor  who drafted the plastic bag law said he was “inclined” to expand it to include newspaper bags, “caused a flurry of activity by GP’s newspaper partners”.

Plastic bag makers will have to go green as their products come under fire by lawmakers in the United States seeking total or partial bans on plastic bags. By some estimates, conventional plastic bags may remain in our environment for 500-1000 years. Depending on the actual conditions within a landfill, PolyGreen should degrade in 2-3 years and bags “floating” as litter in the environment will normally degrade completely in a few months. Results of tests at Willow Ridge Plastics, in Erlanger, Kentucky, confirm that bags manufactured by GP Plastics, containing a proprietary additive, will meet the specification  of an oxo-biodegradable plastic.

Mike Skinner, CFO of GP Plastics, says “ In order to insure delivery integrity (dry papers) to their subscribers, the domestic newspaper industry uses 6-7 billion bags per year. GP manufactures more that one-half of those bags. This is a good step in the right direction for both their industry and the environment.

Skinner said the new PolyGreen bags will cost 15-20 percent more than traditional news bags and added “this is a fraction of a cent per bag, certainly nowhere close to the penalties and taxes that are being proposed daily by lawmakers and environmental groups.”

“In addition, readers and advertisers are aware of the environmental issues, and I believe that both will respond favorably. We can focus on cost, or we can look forward to increased circulation and advertising revenues-and-a much cleaner environment.”

PolyGreen samples will be on display at the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) 2008 Marketing Conference being held February 24-27 at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

About GP Plastics Corp:
Formed in 1968, GP Plastics Corporation is the absolute leader in the manufacture of newspaper bags for home delivery and advertising. In addition to bundle covers for the newspaper industry, GP's other major product offerings include can liners for industrial, janitorial, and institutional applications and special packaging, including produce bags used in supermarkets and special event bags. GP Plastics has been recognized for its great quality and service in the industry.

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