Biocorp Goes for the Gold to Make Sydney Games the `Greenest Ever'; 2000 Olympic Games To Use Biocorp's Biodegradable Utensils And Trash Bags To Reduce Waste.

Business Editors

SYDNEY, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 2000

In an effort to ensure that the 2000 Summer Olympics are the most environmentally responsible games ever, the Sydney Olympic Committee (SOCOG) has selected Biocorp Inc. to supply all the eating utensils, cup lids, straws and trash bags to the summer games.

Biocorp will be the sole supplier of biodegradable, compostable garbage bag to Cleanevent, which is the official provider of cleaning management services to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Biocorp will also be the sole supplier of biodegradable, plastic, compostable food utensils to VISY, which is the official provider of packaging and recycling services to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Biocorp's unique products are made from biodegradable materials that allow them to be composted along with food waste and other organic materials.

Hoping to recycle and compost as much of the Olympics waste as possible, SOCOG has devised the most advanced and thorough waste management system ever. A color-coded bin system will allow athletes and spectators to easily separate recyclable and compostable waste, greatly reducing the amount of trash that must be landfilled.

"We are proud to be selected as a supplier to the 2000 Games, and we are dedicated to ensuring that the Sydney Games are the 'greenest' Olympics ever," stated Frederic Scheer, Chairman and CEO of Biocorp. "Our products not only reduce the enormous amount of trash being sent to our landfills, but they also help promote composting, which replenishes the world's soils."

The 10,200 participating athletes, 5,000 support staff and 8,000,000 spectators at the Olympics are expected to generate approximately 10,000 tons of waste. By creating an easy-to-use system of trash separation, Olympic organizers hope to divert much of that waste from landfills to recycling and composting facilities. Key to this effort is the incorporation of biodegradable food service ware and trash bags that can be composted along with leftover food.

The announcement was made today in Sydney to a crowd of supporters including Carol Davies, President of the Green Games Watch along with Craig Lovett, Chief Executive of Cleanevent; Rob Pascoe, National General Manager of Visy Special Events and representatives from Greenpeace.

Biocorp's innovative manufacturing process combines cornstarch with other biodegradable materials to produce products that are 100% biodegradable and compostable. And unlike so-called "degradable plastic," Biocorp products do not use polyethylene or polystyrene and do not leave any plastic residue. When composted, Biocorp products biodegrade completely into carbon dioxide, water and biomass in 30-60 days, just like food scraps and yard trimmings.

Composting organic waste from large events has always been difficult, since all contaminants such as plastic utensils and polystyrene packaging must be first separated from the waste stream, a painstaking process that is usually too costly and labor intensive to make economic sense. Biocorp products allow eating utensils, cup lids and straws to be disposed along with leftover food in biodegradable trash bags that can be taken directly to a composting facility without expensive sorting.

Founded by Scheer in 1996, Biocorp is the world's leading developer and manufacturer of biodegradable products, including lawn and leaf bags, bin liners, and food serviceware such as cutlery, cups, straws, lids and plates. Its products are used in 17 countries around the world by over 600 businesses, institutions and cities. Biocorp products are fully compostable and meet stringent international scientific standards. Biocorp is based in Redondo Beach, California.