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Neenah Paper, based in Alpharetta, Ga., is using green steam to provide energy for its Neenah, Wis., mill.

The company estimates that it will purchase 350 million pounds of steam—a byproduct of a wastewater recycling process—per year to dry paper during manufacturing and to heat the mill. Neenah projects that this will reduce its natural gas consumption by 80 percent annually.

By reducing natural gas consumption, Neenah will also decrease its carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent, or 150,000 metric tons.

The state of Wisconsin declared the steam "green" because it is derived from a renewable, organic source: wastewater sludge from paper mills.

Minergy Corp., a processing facility based in Neenah, Wis., developed the innovative method to recover the mineral content of the sludge and transform it into beneficial uses like steam, electricity and glass aggregate.

"The steam is used to pre-dry the sludge," Terry Carroll, Minergy general manager, says. The solids are then melted in a glass furnace. "This leaves behind inorganic mineral components that flow from the furnace as liquid glass, which can ultimately be used in various commercial applications. The heat produced by the melting process is recovered in a generator, which co-produces more steam. It is also used to power a turbine generator, which in turn generates electricity. It is truly a full-circle process," Carroll says.

Pint-sized water bottles produced for the Metropolitan Water Authority of Southern California are featuring labels with artwork by pint-sized artists.

The artwork of 14 area secondary school students is being displayed on the labels, while the artwork of 36 students from seventh through 12th grade is being included in Metropolitan’s 2006 calendar.

Each of the secondary school winning artists will receive a case of 24 bottles with labels featuring their artwork. The contest winners were also honored at a luncheon Dec. 14, 2005, at Metropolitan headquarters.

The art, which illustrates water appreciation and conservation messages, was selected in the annual "Water Is Life" poster contest for public and private school students. Metropolitan’s member agencies and retail water agencies in the region cosponsored the contest.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies. It also helps its members to develop water conservation, recycling, storage and other water management programs.

Crown Lager from Foster’s Group Ltd. is described as Australia’s original premium beer with a rich history. According to the Foster’s Web site (www.fosters.com.au), "The brand’s understated elegance has seen it emerge as an icon—a classic in its own right."

How will Australians react to Foster’s tampering with an icon as Crown Lager debuts in aluminum bottles?

"We waited to launch our Crown Lager in aluminum bottles until just the right time," Paul Gloster, consumer solutions manager, Foster’s Australia, says. "We celebrate Christmas and New Year’s under the summer sun here in Australia, and we wanted to introduce our premium brew in its unique new packaging at the height of the holiday season."

CCL Container of Hermitage, Pa., the same company that created the first aluminum crown beer bottle for Pittsburgh Brewing Co., makes the bottles for Foster’s.

Ed Martin, CCL vice president of sales and marketing, says, "Foster’s considered other on-premise package options, including PET and shaped cans, but ultimately decided that our aluminum bottles offered the unique shape, upscale look and distinct style that would enhance the premium image of Crown Lager,"

Amcor Australasia assisted with the logistics and distribution of the CCL Container bottles, which were manufactured in North America.

Gloster says the new bottles look great and keep the beer cooler longer.