07-07-08 - For Immediate Release

“Alkemists Sets The Bar, Becoming The First 'Green'
Analytical Lab In The Natural Products Industry"

Costa Mesa, Ca., July 30, 2008 – Alkemists Pharmaceuticals today announced that it has partnered with Green Mountain Energy Company  to take the necessary steps in offsetting 100% of the total calculated carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions thereby enabling them to operate as a “carbon neutral” analytical laboratory.

Partnering with Green Mountain Energy Company to create a CO2 emissions footprint for Alkemists’s entire operation, the measured emissions impact of annual electricity, refrigerant and natural gas usage, employee commuting and corporate air travel is responsible for the emissions of approximately 31 metric tons of CO2.  To put that in perspective, that is about the same environmental impact as driving a car almost 76,000 miles! It is equivalent to taking about 6 cars off the road annually or planting more than 4,100 trees. Furthermore, by offsetting these emissions, it has the same environmental impact as recycling over 168,000 aluminum cans and recycling over 27,300 pounds of newspaper.  

By purchasing enough Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) made from wind sources, Alkemists offset 100% of their electricity and refrigerant (A/C) related CO2 emissions in 2007 and 2008. This commitment will help offset over 11 metric tons of carbon dioxide, a harmful greenhouse gas and potential significant contributor of global climate change.

Alkemists has also committed to neutralizing 100% of the emissions created in 2007 and 2008 by the natural gas usage, employee commuting and corporate air travel which have offset over 20 metric tons of CO2 through the purchase of Forest Sequestration Offsets.  Trees will be planted in the Mendocino National Forest Hunter Fire Restoration Project through Green Mountain’s forest sequestration partner, American Forests.

“Today, it is difficult not to be aware of the imbalances we have inadvertently created for our planet,” stated Elan Sudberg, Lab Manager of Alkemists Pharmaceuticals. “As a contributing factor in the various environmental issues I feel that it is our responsibility to be accountable in some way. Going carbon neutral is a great and incredibly simple way to move forward in a meaningful attempt to undo the harmful byproducts of operating an analytical laboratory. In fact we are going above and beyond our calculated emissions by working with The Arbor Day Foundation and their Rain Forest Rescue and Reforestation Program.”
 
For the past decade, Alkemists Pharmaceuticals, an independent quality control laboratory, has focused on the Dietary Supplement Industry’s self regulation and has emerged as the natural choice for independent, third-party analysis, as well as a reliable technical and quality control partner for companies producing dietary supplements.  With over 850 species of botanicals analyzed and an in-house herbarium containing more than 6000 botanical specimens, enabling multiple species cross-referencing, Alkemists has become the ‘go to’ lab for independent, third-party natural product analysis and random testing analysis and certification. 

About Company
Alkemists Labs is a fully integrated contract testing laboratory specializing in plant authentication, botanical ingredient identification and analytical services to the Food & Beverage, Nutraceutical and Cosmeceutical Industries. Located in southern California, Alkemists offers Clients a wide range of specialty research services using over 1100 proprietary analytical methods as well as Compendia methodologies to evaluate the safety, purity and quality of botanical substances and finished natural products. With over 800 species of botanicals analyzed and an in-house herbarium containing 6,000 botanical specimens, enabling multiple species cross-referencing for a more accurate botanical identification, Alkemists has become the ideal “Partner for Quality” to companies producing high quality natural products requiring independent, third-party analysis, Stability/Shelf-life studies and/or Certification of Analysis.

Alkemists Labs is committed to provide its Clients with the highest quality of analytical services via on-time accurate results and reporting, access to expert advice and an overall comprehensive offering of centralized testing services that make outsourcing incredibly easy. As one of the most well known national and international leaders in the Natural Products Industry, Alkemists Labs is dedicated to meeting the increasingly stringent quality and safety guidelines put forth by companies and regulatory authorities from around the world.