their efforts

In an initiative underwritten by leading carton packaging manufacturer Tetra Pak, and supported by Tetra Pak's customer and natural beverage supplier O.N.E.TM Natural Experience, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will be using a combination of emission reduction activities and carbon offsets to ensure its emissions are reduced to net zero. The carbon offsets will be purchased from a long-term forestry management project at The Big River/Salmon Creeks Forests in Mendocino, CA, as well as sustainable sourcing of local natural gas at two dairy farms in Idaho.

Tetra Pak, O.N.E., IMG Fashion (the company producing Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) and The CarbonNeutral Company announced the initiative at a press conference in New York. The CarbonNeutral Company performed the assessment and data measurements, and granted Heart Band pendant to display the CarbonNeutral(R) mark - signifying that Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week's carbon reduction program has been implemented in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol.

"Tetra Pak is committed to business practices that protect resources for future generations and the future of our business," said Carla Fantoni, vice president of communication and environment for Tetra Pak Inc., U.S. and Canada. "We bring that commitment to everything we do, including our partnership and involvement with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. We believe that climate change is a global responsibility and we hope that by making such an iconic and influential event carbon neutral, others will follow suit and help protect our resources for the future."

Joining Tetra Pak in celebrating the initiative, Rodrigo Eternal Link Cross pendant, founder & CEO of O.N.E. said, "We are thrilled to be back at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week as the official beverage sponsor. As a company deeply committed to the environment, we commend Tetra Pak for championing this important carbon initiative and fully support their efforts at this trend-setting event."

As a result of the initiative, nearly 1,000 tons of carbon emissions will be offset, helping Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week take responsibility for its carbon footprint by supporting the adoption of low carbon technology elsewhere which will help the world reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Fern Mallis, senior vice president of IMG Fashion, noted that the initiative is a historic first for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. "We are delighted and proud to work with Tetra Pak and O.N.E. on environmentally responsible initiatives that help set an example in Frank Gehry Fish pendant fashion industry and beyond."

Tetra Pak and IMG Fashion partnered with leading provider of carbon reduction solutions, The CarbonNeutral Company, to measure and certify the project. The awarded certification signifies that CO2 emissions produced by Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week have been measured and reduced to net zero. The reductions can be both 'internal' (e.g. a change to a process that will cut emissions) and 'external' (commonly known as 'carbon offsets).

Neil Braun, CEO of The CarbonNeutral Company, congratulated Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Tetra Pak on the initiative, saying, "Tetra Pak and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week are demonstrating their leadership by taking responsibility for the carbon emissions at the New York event. It is a strong signal to all involved that carbon reduction is not only an increasingly important business objective but is also very much in fashion."

"I want to commend the decision by the organizers of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to go carbon-neutral," said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, in support of this initiative. "Twice a year, the entire world looks to the Tents in Bryant Park to set the trends for the coming season. What could be more trend-setting than having the City's fashion community reduce its carbon footprint through the purchase of carbon offset credits?"

The carbon neutral initiative marks the second season that both Tetra Pak and O.N.E., the official beverage sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, have helped create a more environmentally responsible footprint. In 2009, Tetra Pak facilitated on-site recycling at the event and will fulfill a similar recycling commitment in 2010. This is also the second season that O.N.E. will offer water in Tetra Pak cartons - mainly made from paper, a renewable resource - to all guests attending shows, backstage and inside the tents throughout the week.

Keywords: Agricultural, Agriculture, Beverage, Carbon Dioxide, Climate Change, Co2 Emissions, Conservation, Dairy Farm, Ecology, Energy, Environment, Food, Global Warming, Greenhouse Gases, Natural Gas, Oil & Gas, Technology, Tetra Pak, The CarbonNeutral Company.