October 17, 2000 -- For the eighth consecutive year, WorldWise, Inc. was named a winner in the California Integrated Waste Management Board Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP).

The annual WRAP program recognizes California businesses that have made outstanding efforts to reduce waste and send less garbage to landfills.

"We're gratified to be among the growing number of California businesses helping to broaden the definition of corporate success."-- Aaron Lamstein, Worldwise President and CEO

WRAP is part of the California Integrated Waste Management Board's larger effort to keep half the state's waste out of landfills by the year 2000. The Board estimates that 50 percent of the state's waste stream is generated by business and industry.

WorldWise has received WRAP recognition every year since the award program's inception in 1993.

A record-setting 1,898 businesses statewide qualified for the award this year, more than triple the number of winners in 1999. Applicants are based on a set of criteria developed with input from the business community. Practices evaluated include waste prevention, materials reuse, recycling, recycled-product procurement and employee education.

WorldWise has deliberately and successfully chosen to compete in the mass market, exponentially increasing exposure to consumers who might otherwise overlook an "eco-product" unless it compared favorably to alternatives in terms of quality, appearance and value. WorldWise products are distributed throughout North America at retailers such as Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Target, Longs Drugs, Orchard Supply Hardware, Home Base, Kroger and Fred Meyer.

Each week, Wal-Mart shoppers alone keep the equivalent of more than 200,000 bottle caps from ending up in landfills through their purchase of WorldWise pet food bowls.

WRAP winners receive a certificate, are allowed full use of the Board's WRAP logo on promotional materials and are recognized in the media statewide. Winners are also eligible to be designated as one of the program's 10 best "WRAP of the Year" winners, picked from the annual group of recipients.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is responsible for managing California's solid waste stream. The Board is helping California divert waste from landfills by developing waste reduction programs, providing public education and outreach, assisting local governments and businesses, and fostering market development for recyclable materials. The Board also protects public health and the environment by encouraging used oil recycling, regulating waste management facilities, and cleaning up abandoned and illegal dump sites. The Waste Board is one of six agencies under the umbrella of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

See below for a Recycled Products and Practices Case Study of WorldWise written by the California Integrated Waste Management Board-Buy Recycled Section.