MATTHEWS ANNOUNCES CERTIFICATION AS SONY GREEN PARTNER

Pittsburgh, PA, January 16, 2009 – Matthews Marking Products (MMP) Ink Facility has been approved as a Sony Green Partner.  Sony designates suppliers that cooperate in the production of environmentally sensitive products as Green Partners.  This marks the second time that MMP Ink has been approved as a Sony Green Partner.

The Green Partner program is an initiative by Sony to provide its customers with products that have been designed and produced to minimize environmental impact based on Sony’s environmental policies. The company requires its suppliers to provide products and utilize raw materials, processes and methods that are friendly to the environment.  Since 2003, Sony only procures materials from suppliers who are Green Partners.

Green Partner refers to suppliers who have established an Upstream Management System.  This system consists of a supplier taking control of its whole process with regard to using “clean” (environmentally friendly) raw materials and manufacturing processes in order to supply a “clean” product to Sony.  In order to be classified as a Green Partner, Matthews had to provide guarantees that its products manufactured under the management system are “clean” products.  A Sony auditor completed an environmental quality audit on the materials, processes and plant.  Only after achieving a certain score can a plant become a Sony Green Partner.  As part of the program, Matthews must undergo renewal audits on a regular basis to ensure that environmental standards are being maintained.  According to Mark Stillman, Vice President of Ink Products, “Matthews is pleased to have achieved certification as a Sony Green Partner.  We truly value this certification and appreciate being associated with the quality and environmental standards this program represents.”

Please click here to view the certificate

For more information on the complete range of Matthews Marking Products, contact Stephanie Zahringer, Matthews Marking Products, 6515 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.  Telephone (412) 665-2504, fax (412) 365-2042, www.matthewsmarking.com.  Matthews Marking Products is a division of the Brand Solutions group of Matthews International Corporation.