Ball Announces Most Sustainable Plants for 2013

BROOMFIELD, Colo., April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) today recognized six of its 61 global plants with the R. David Hoover Sustainability Award for exceptional economic, social and environmental performance in 2013. The annual award recognizes one plant in each Ball packaging division or product group with the best overall sustainability improvement.

The most sustainable plants for 2013 include:

• Beijing, China (Ball Asia Pacific)
• Chestnut Hill, Tenn. (Global Food and Household Products)
• La Ciotat, France (Ball Packaging Europe)
• Monticello, Ind. (Beverage Cans, Americas)
• Velim, Czech Republic (Global Extruded Aluminum Packaging)
• Verona, Va. (Global Slugs)

"At Ball, sustainability has been a part of who we are for more than 134 years and is an important aspect of our Drive for 10 vision," said John A. Hayes, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Thanks to their disciplined execution of this vision, and their careful and deliberate balance of our economic, environmental and social impacts, our plants and their employees are positioning Ball for continued long-term success."

Every year, each of Ball's plants around the world is evaluated based on performance in various categories, including the reduction of electricity, natural gas, water usage, waste and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as overall safety record, sharing of best practices, local support of packaging collection and recycling, charitable contributions and volunteerism.

Ball established the R. David Hoover Sustainability Award in 2011 in honor of the company's former chairman, president and CEO, who was a key driver in the development of Ball's formal sustainability program. Ball is an industry leader in sustainability reporting and practices and will issue its fourth biennial sustainability report in May.

About Ball Corporation

Ball Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for beverage, food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2013 sales of $8.5 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product demand fluctuations; availability/cost of raw materials; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve productivity improvements or cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the company as a whole include those listed plus: changes in senior management; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions and divestitures; regulatory action or issues including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget, sequestration and debt limit; reduced cash flow; ability to achieve cost-out initiatives; interest rates affecting our debt.

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SOURCE Ball Corporation