Curtis shifts into ‘carbon neutral’

A Newtown carton company has became the first packaging company in the United States to receive a “carbon neutral” designation.

Curtis Packaging Corp. uses renewable energy to power all its operations, including the impact of energy investments it makes to offset carbon emissions it cannot avoid producing.

Founded in 1845, Curtis Packaging got into the carton trade in the late 19th century when it began manufacturing his own rigid boxes to ship buttons and combs made by the company.

The company was acquired in the 1980s by Don Droppo Sr.

“We are very proud to take our commitment with the environment a step further by taking responsibility for our carbon footprint and offsetting our emissions,” said Don Droppo Jr., senior vice president of marketing for Curtis, in a prepared statement. “The company”™s remaining unavoidable (carbon dioxide) emissions will now be neutralized by investing in a portfolio of independently audited high-quality projects.

The London-based CarbonNeutral Co. will be investing Curtis funds in a forestry project in Wales and a methane-capture project in Germany.

Dell Computer Inc. last month declared its intention to become carbon neutral in 2008; in August, Southern Connecticut State University (in New Haven) declared its intention to become carbon neutral.