Alcan Packaging honoured at the 2009 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards

PARIS, March 9 /PRNewswire/ – Alcan Packaging, a business unit of Rio Tinto Alcan, was presented with two honours at the Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards in Naples, Florida, on 25 February 2009. It was named Silver Award Winner in Sustainability & Environmental Achievement for the Softsoap(R) Hand Soap Refill Pouch, and Silver Award Winner in Packaging Excellence for the Ore-Ida(R) Steam n’ Mash(TM) package.

“We are dedicated to delivering inspired, innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers,” said Mike Schmitt, President, Alcan Packaging Food Americas. “This honour confirms our approach and acknowledges the efforts of Alcan Packaging Food Americas’ people.”

The Softsoap(R) Hand Soap Refill Pouch benefits from an energy efficient manufacturing process, lightweight materials and collapsibility to offer environmental benefits in the areas of reduced emissions, waste, and energy consumption.

The Ore-Ida(R) Steam n’ Mash(TM) package combines a high performance sealant and self-venting technology to go directly from freezer to microwave. It meets the demands of frozen food distribution and cooks the product without additional steps for the consumer.

The 53rd annual FPA Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition is organised and sponsored by the Flexible Packaging Association in the United States. The awards celebrate outstanding advancements in materials, design, printing, production, sustainability and technical innovation for packaging solutions for a multitude of products.

Alcan Packaging is a global leader in value-added specialty packaging. It delivers multi-material innovative solutions to customers around the world for the food, pharmaceutical, beauty and tobacco markets. Headquartered in Paris, France, Alcan Packaging has 131 facilities and 29,000 employees in 31 countries.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto’s business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

SOURCE RIO TINTO ALCAN – EN