Malt-O-Meal announces the official launch of www.bagthebox.com. The new Web site provides a fun way to challenge and inspire consumer thought surrounding excess food packaging and what “75% Less Packaging*. 100% Smarter.” means for the environment.

Site visitors are encouraged to learn more and participate in activities at a number of interactive areas on the site. Visitors are also asked to share their thoughts on the topic of reducing the amount of consumer packaging waste. The goal of the site is to urge consumers to make more conscious choices when purchasing products that will help reduce packaging waste at home. There is a video contest that prompts entrants to address the “75% Less Packaging*. 100% Smarter.” contest theme. Entrants must be members of the Malt-O-Meal Facebook Community to enter the video contest.

A humorous, animated short makes its debut on the new www.bagthebox.com web site featuring an “odd couple” discussing the topic of excessive consumer packaging. Visitors are encouraged to comment and share their insights in the area provided on the new site.
 The Let’s Talk page of the new website addresses what is being said by consumers regarding the topic of consumer packaging waste, as well as feature a live feed of comments surrounding this, and other topics coming directly from members of the Malt-O-Meal Facebook Community. You can join the Malt-O-Meal Facebook Community by visiting: www.facebook.com/MaltOMealFanPage.

*75% less packaging based on the net weight of empty consumer packaging per pound of cereal delivered. Even when their box size is smaller, the net weight of their box and empty inner bag is still greater than the net weight of the larger Malt-O-Meal® bag when empty.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN September 10, 2009 – Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal Company, the largest family owned cereal manufacturer in the country, today announced a new partnership with TerraCycle, an upstart up-cycling company that takes packaging materials and turns them into affordable, high quality goods. The partnership will create 1,250 Malt-O-Meal Cereal Bag Brigades in elementary and secondary schools across the country.

Malt-O-Meal Cereal Bag Brigades will function as collection sites for post-use Malt-O-Meal cereal bags and help prevent a significant amount of packaging waste from going into landfills. Individuals or school groups can sign up to sponsor a Brigade, with proceeds to benefit a designated school, school-sponsored club, or school-sponsored special interest group. There is no cost to start a Brigade, and all shipping costs are paid. For every Malt-O-Meal cereal bag collected and upcycled through TerraCycle, the designated school will receive a $.02 donation from TerraCycle.

“Bags create 75% less packaging to dispose of than comparable cereal box packaging that includes both a box and an inside bag*,” said Paul Reppenhagen, Director of Marketing. “Now, for every Malt-O-Meal cereal bag that is collected and returned to TerraCycle, we can reduce that packaging waste to zero.”

Malt-O-Meal makes over 25 varieties of ready-to-eat cereal including some of the country’s most popular cereals. All Malt-O-Meal cereal varieties can be collected and upcycled by Malt-O-Meal Cereal Bag Brigades.

To learn more about Terracycle or to sign up to sponsor a Malt-O-Meal Cereal Bag Brigade, go to http://www.terracycle.net/brigades/21-Malt-O-Meal-Cereal-Bag-Brigade-

About the Malt-O-Meal Company
Founded in 1919, Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal Company produces over 25 different ready-to-eat cereals, three varieties of Malt-O-Meal Hot Wheat cereal, and a full line of oatmeal products. Malt-O-Meal cereals are enjoyed in over 27 million households nationwide. Ten varieties of ready-to-eat cereal rank among the top 50 best-selling cereals in the country. For more information on the company, including where to buy Malt-O-Meal cereals and how to join Cereal Central (an online community featuring tips on how to save money), visit www.maltomeal.com, friend us at www.facebook.com/maltomeal or follow us on Twitter @maltomeal.

About TerraCycle
Content to come from TerraCycle

*Based on the net weight of empty consumer packaging per pound of cereal delivered. Even when their box is smaller, the net weight of the box and empty bag is still greater than the net weight of the larger Malt-O-Meal bag when empty.

What are we doing?

➢    Our convenient re-sealable bags contribute significantly to a reduction in materials and disposable waste. Each year, there are about 2.5 billion cereal boxes sold in the United States. If even half of those boxes were bags, we’d save 90,000 tons of paperboard.* The energy saved could power over 11,000 homes for a year. It would eliminate 170 million gallons of waste water. By eliminating the exterior box, we’ve reduced the amount of packaging that consumers need to dispose of by 75%!**

➢    We’re working hard to reduce the resources we use to produce and package our cereal products. We have active programs to reduce energy and minimize water use at our Northfield, Minnesota plant. Since 1996, we have reduced the water used to make cereal by 41% and we’ve reduced our energy use by 10%. That adds up to millions of gallons of water and KWh of energy saved through conservation.

➢    We have many recycling programs throughout our company, and over 99% of the waste in our Northfield plant is recycled.

What can your family do?

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They’re more energy efficient and last longer, so they’ll save you money in the long run.
• Check dishwasher settings. Choose “air dry” or “no heat dry” to save energy.
• Shorten your showers. Every minute in the shower uses four to six gallons of water. Cut our daily shower by just one minute and you’ll save about 1,500 gallons in a year.
• Heat leftovers in a microwave. Faster heating equals less energy.
• Wait for the full load. Whether cleaning dishes or clothes, run your machine only when you have a full load.
• Shut down and unplug. Computers use energy even when turned off and chargers use energy if you leave them plugged in when not in use. On any appliance, a glowing light means energy is being used.

• Recycle. When you can’t reduce or reuse, recycle. Understand your neighborhood program to make the most of it.
• Minimize idle time. When waiting to pick the kids up, turn off your car to save gas and reduce emissions.
• Put on a sweater. Save 5% for  every degree you turn down your thermostat in the winter.
• Donate used clothing, toys and household items. If you can’t use it, perhaps someone else can.

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*Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Defense Fund Paper Calculator. For more information, visit www.papercalculator.org.

** Based on the net weight of empty consumer packaging of comparable size packages.  Even when their box size is smaller, the net weight of their box and empty inner bag is still greater than the net weight of the larger Malt-O-Meal bag when empty.