New disposable paper plates offer an environmental alternative for serving every-day meals or entertaining during football or basketball game parties.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — January 4, 2011 – Pactiv Corporation, maker of Hefty^® brand products, announced it has introduced a new value line of disposable paper plates that are compostable and deliver the strength and value consumers expect from the Hefty^® brand. Free of inks, dyes or coatings, the new Hefty^® Basics™ paper plates are biodegradable in home composting. Environmentally-conscious consumers will enjoy the guilt-free convenience of using disposable plates for serving family meals or entertaining a gathering of friends during a football or basketball game party. These microwavable plates are competitively priced to deliver superior value without busting the budget and are designed to deliver the strength needed to support most any meal. In fact, Hefty^® Basics™ 8 5/8-inch plates are even stronger than *DIXIE^® regular plates.

“Hefty^® Basics™ paper plates are a perfect choice for environmentally-conscious consumers who want the convenience of using disposables for serving meals or entertaining friends,” said John N. Schwab, senior vice president and general manager, Hefty Consumer Products. “Hefty^® Basics™ paper plates deliver the functionality, strength and value consumers demand while being an environmental alternative.”

Hefty^® Basics™ paper plates are available at select grocery stores throughout the Northeast region of the United States, which includes 11 states ranging from Pennsylvania to Maryland and north to Maine, where Hefty^® brand products are sold. The plates are available in 45-count 8 5/8-inch lunch plate packages and 24-count 10 1/4-inch dinner plate packages.

Consumers are encouraged to help Hefty^® support the **Arbor Day Foundation™ by visiting the Hefty^® Basics™ Tableware page on Facebook. Hefty^® will plant up to 10,000 trees – one for every ten new consumers who click the page’s “Like” button. To learn more, visit: www.Facebook.com/Hefty.BasicsTableware.

About the Hefty^® Brand

The Hefty^® brand is one of the nation’s most widely-recognized brands, with quality products including drawstring closure waste bags (Ultra Flex^® and Cinch Sak^® bags), food storage bags with slider closures (Hefty^® OneZip^® bags), disposable tableware (Hefty^® Everyday™ plates, bowls, and cups) and disposable cookware (EZ Foil^® pans). For more information about Hefty^® brand products, visit www.hefty.com.

About Pactiv

Pactiv Corporation is a leader in the consumer and foodservice/food packaging markets it serves. Pactiv’s Hefty^® brand products include waste bags, slider storage bags, disposable tableware, and foil cookware. Pactiv’s foodservice/food packaging offers one of the broadest lines in the industry, providing food packaging for the supermarket, packer/processor, institutional, foodservice, and restaurant industries. Pactiv is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Reynolds Group Holdings Limited. For more information, visit www.pactiv.com.

* DIXIE^® is a registered trademark of Dixie Consumer Products LLC. Pactiv Corporation is not affiliated with Dixie Consumer Products LLC.

** Arbor Day Foundation™ is a registered trademark of the Arbor Day Foundation, a conservation and education organization. Pactiv Corporation is not affiliated with the Arbor Day Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: To obtain a high-resolution digital image, please contact Lisa Foss at lfoss@pactiv.com.

New Hefty® Basics™ disposable paper plates offer convenience, strength and biodegradability in home composting making them a perfect environmental alternative for serving everyday meals or when entertaining.