Ball Corporation Exceeds EPA's Climate Leader Goal Ahead of Schedule

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) has exceeded its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goal set in 2004 as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Leaders program, the company announced today.

Ball had committed to reduce its direct and indirect GHG emissions globally by 16 percent by 2012, using 2002 as the baseline year. By aggressively managing energy efficiency programs throughout the company's operations, Ball reduced its global GHG emissions by 18 percent as of the end of 2010 and is continuing actions to further reduce emissions.

Ball joined the Climate Leaders program in 2004. The EPA industry-government partnership worked with companies to achieve comprehensive climate change and has since phased down services to its partners. While the program ended in 2010, Ball remained committed to achieving its GHG reduction goal.

"We have conducted numerous energy efficiency projects, including reducing compressed air use, improving lighting efficiency and recovering thermal heat, that have had a positive impact on reducing our GHG emissions and helped us surpass our original goal," said James N. Peterson, Ball's vice president, marketing and corporate affairs. "Our success is also due to placing greater emphasis on reducing energy usage globally and the commitment of our employees, who continually look for ways to conserve resources in our facilities and add efficiency and value to our manufacturing processes."

Ball originally set its Climate Leaders goal for its North American manufacturing sites. In 2008, the commitment was expanded to include Ball's manufacturing locations in Europe and Asia.

Ball Corporation is a supplier of high quality packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2010 sales of more than $7.6 billion. For the latest Ball news and for other company information, please visit http://www.ball.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to 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 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production 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 rates or tax rates. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; changes in senior management; the recent global recession and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget and debt limit; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

SOURCE Ball Corporation