Cereplast Names Bioplastics Expert Michael Thielen Ombudsman for New Bioplastics Symbol

Cereplast, Inc. (Nasdaq:CERP), a leading manufacturer of proprietary biobased, compostable and sustainable plastics, has appointed Dr. Michael Thielen as ombudsman for the new bioplastics symbol, effective October 1, 2011.

 

 

As ombudsman, Thielen will strive to gain widespread industry support of a single logo to represent bioplastics and will oversee all matters related to the usage and licensing requirements surrounding the symbol. In addition, Thielen will be responsible for maintaining the integrity of the symbol and will serve as liaison to industry participants, and to consumers, and will handle all public input regarding how the symbol is used. He will also promote public understanding of the symbol and of bioplastics in general. Thielen's role is independent of Cereplast's staff and management and he'll serve in this role as a third party, independent consultant.

 

 

"Providing consumers with a single identifying mark that is stamped on a product is a critical next step in helping consumers distinguish which products are made from bioplastics, as opposed to traditional plastics," said Michael Thielen, President of Polymediaconsult. "Having one centralized logo that is supported by the industry will streamline and simplify the message that product manufacturers want to convey to the public—that the product is made from environmentally conscious, bioplastic materials."

 

 

"The bioplastic symbol ombudsman will play an important role in bringing the industry together to support a single logo in an effort to simplify the way in which consumer products are identified as made from bioplastics," said Frederic Scheer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cereplast, Inc. "Thielen will act as liaison to the public to ensure that this symbol is used properly and in a way that provides maximum benefits to both industry participants and consumers. His respected and seasoned background working in the packaging technology sector, and his knowledge of plastics processing, makes him an ideal fit for the role of watching over and safeguarding how the symbol is used."

 

 

Thielen is the founder and president of Polymediaconsult, a communications consultancy specializing in technical writing and positioning for the plastics industry. He began his career in various management and public relations roles at plastics and packaging technology companies including Krupp, Thyssen-Krupp and SIG, and has served as editor and publisher of bioplastics MAGAZINE since 2006. Thielen earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering (plastics processing IKV) from the RWTH Aachen University in Germany. He also wrote several books and was a guest lecturer on the topic of plastics processing and packaging technologies at various universities of applied sciences in Germany, the United Kingdom and at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

 

 

The bioplastics symbol was born on April 21, 2011 as a result of a nationwide design competition hosted by Cereplast. Thielen and six other renowned judges selected the winning symbol. The prestigious panel of judges also included Rebecca Minkoff, fashion designer; Karim Rashid, world-class industrial designer; and Dr. Gary Anderson, designer of the globally recognized "recycling symbol."

Bioplastics are environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastics—and are partially or fully biobased, (i.e. made from renewable resources including potatoes, corn, tapioca, sugar and algae)—and/or are biodegradable or compostable, providing consumers and manufacturers with a revolutionary option to help safeguard the environment and support a sustainable future.

 

 

The Cereplast, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=9567

 

Source:  www.cereplast.com