PGI strengthens Corporate Sustainability Program

3 February 2009, Charlotte, NC - PGI announced yesterday that it is strengthening its corporate sustainability program with a focused and expanded initiative in this area led by the company's first Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO).

John Heironimus, Chief Marketing Officer for the company, has been appointed to the newly created position of CSO. Heironimus has been with PGI for two years, following an extensive career in various marketing and development roles with consumer products companies, and also continues in his current marketing position.

Heironimus will lead the company's increased efforts in sustainability that will include public measurements of the impact its products and operations have on the environment as well as its social responsibility efforts. The company will begin publicly reporting such areas as energy and water usage, and carbon emissions, by issuing a global score card tracking its progress on its Web site.

The company's says it’s expanded sustainability program demonstrates PGI's leadership as a top nonwovens producer in this important area and shows its commitment to partnering with its key customers and suppliers on these crucial initiatives to better the environment and world.

In the appointment announcement, Veronica "Ronee" Hagen, Chief Executive Officer of PGI, stated, "We are committed to achieving leadership in sustainability in our industry. We see this as not only an essential matter of corporate responsibility, but also an important area of collaboration with our key customers and suppliers. Our commitment to sustainability is a reflection of our values and integral part of the PGI brand. The world's leading companies have embraced the sustainability challenge as a core operating principle and PGI will be no exception as a leading global nonwovens company."

"In a world of shrinking resources and mounting environmental concerns, the expectations of all our stakeholders are changing," said Heironimus. "Our corporate commitment to sustainability is both the ethical and prudent thing to do. Through our expanded efforts in this area, we will deliver superior total value for all internal and external stakeholders, and help shape our industry to make a better tomorrow. PGI already has an excellent track record in sustainability that we will build upon and bring to the public's attention."

Heironimus joined PGI in 2007 as Chief Marketing Officer after a distinguished career heading up new commercial initiatives at some of the world's leading consumer products companies. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BSE in Chemical Engineering and a BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

PGI, one of the world's leading producers of nonwovens, is a global, technology-driven developer, producer and marketer of engineered materials. With the broadest range of process technologies in the nonwovens industry, PGI is a global supplier to leading consumer and industrial product manufacturers. The company operates 18 manufacturing and converting facilities in eight countries throughout the world. For more information, visit www.polymergroupinc.com.