Additional Sony Green Partner Supplier Approval for ColorMatrix Group

Following ColorMatrix Group's approval as a Sony Green Partner supplier earlier in 2008, their speciality fluoropolymer colorant division Colorant Chromatics Group has now also achieved Sony Green Partner status following a rigorous assessment of their production and commercial facilities.

Sony designates suppliers that cooperate in the production of environmentally sensitive products as Green Partners. Sony established the Sony Green Partner Standards in July 2001 with the aim of encouraging suppliers to introduce Green Partner environmental management systems. In March 2002, they established a set of "Management regulations for environment-related substances to be controlled which are included in parts and materials". Environment-related substances to be immediately banned or reduced were identified, as well as their applications. The regulations were enforced the following July. Together with this action, items required of suppliers under the Sony Green Partner Standards were further clarified by introducing the "Green Partner Environmental Quality Approval Program."

As an upstream supplier to Sony, ColorMatrix and Colorant Chromatic Group facilities in Europe and the US were subject to a detailed environmental audit which required providing evidence of control of raw materials and finished products as well as a full interrogation of both company's resource management systems and production processes.

Following Colorant Chromatics' recent approval, Group Managing Björn Klaas, said: "We are very proud to have achieved the Sony Green Partner status. As a group, we are committed to ensuring that every part of our organisation is aware of the importance of high environmental standards and that this commitment is demonstrated through positive action. Everybody in the organisation has worked hard to meet these standards, particularly in the areas of responsible care, efficient resource allocation and customer care. This certification recognises that hard work."

Swiss based Colorant Chromatics Group, a speciality division of plastic technology innovators ColorMatrix Group Inc., are global leaders in
fluoropolymer colour concentrates and compounds that feature high heat resistance, flame retardance, chemical resistance and outstanding electrical properties. Their formulations offer optimum dispersion capabilities, resulting in high throughputs minimal waste and production downtime for the customer - a major contributor to its strong environmental credentials. Colorant Chromatics group has manufacturing and commercial facilities throughout Europe, Asia and the US.

ColorMatrix Group for whose UK (Knowsley) and US (Berea, Cleveland) facilities achieved the Sony approval in April 2008, have been implementing an ongoing program of LEAN manufacturing processes for a number years. This has helped to eliminate waste and ensure maximised production efficiencies. This, they believe, has made a significant contribution to ColorMatrix's achievement of the Sony Green Partner approval.