Clearwater Paper to Manufacture and Distribute Candesce Paperboard with Smart Planet's EarthCoating Resin

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:

(News Media)      (Trade Media)    (Smart Planet) Matt Van Vleet    Linda Lewis         Todd Gasparik 509-344-5912     509-344-5969      949-253-5845

CLEARWATER PAPER TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE CANDESCE PAPERBOARD WITH SMART PLANET’S EARTHCOATING RESINS

SPOKANE, Wash.– Jan. 31, 2012–Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE: CLW), a leading manufacturer of bleached paperboard products, today announced it has signed a license agreement to extrude EarthCoating™ resins from Smart Planet Technologies™ for use in the full line of Candesce^® paperboard products.

The EarthCoating™ resins are innovative, high performance, mineral-based coatings, which contain less plastic than traditional low-density polyethylene coatings while providing enhanced moisture barrier properties and equal barrier properties to oil, grease and fatty acids. EarthCoating™ is FDA-compliant for direct food contact.

“Our agreement with Smart Planet Technologies will enable Clearwater Paper to offer our customers unique extrusion coatings options that reduce the amount of polyethylene used while maintaining or enhancing package performance,” said Richard Dreshfield, Director of Marketing & Customer Service for Clearwater Paper’s Pulp and Paperboard Division. “The beauty of the new resin is that it converts like low density poly-coated material meaning that it can be printed, die-cut, folded and glued using existing equipment.”

“By adding EarthCoating™ to their Candesce product line, Clearwater Paper brings a new paperboard solution to converters and their customers looking to reduce the amount of polyethylene in their packaging while enhancing moisture-vapor transmission rates,” said Chris Tilton, chief technology officer of Smart Planet Technologies™, Inc.

ABOUT CLEARWATER PAPER

Clearwater Paper manufactures quality consumer tissue, away-from-home tissue, hard roll tissue, machine glazed tissue, bleached paperboard and pulp at 15 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada. The company is a premier supplier of private label tissue to major retailers and wholesale distributors. This includes grocery, drug, mass merchants and discount stores. The company also produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters. Clearwater Paper's employees build shareholder value by developing strong customer partnerships through quality and service.

About Smart Planet Technologies, Inc.

Smart Planet Technologies is a materials R&D company focused on sustainability for the packaging industry. Through innovation, their technologies are focused to conserve precious natural resources and provide high quality, environmental alternatives to a wide variety of rigid, flexible and corrugated packaging applications.

For additional information on Clearwater Paper, please visit our website at www.clearwaterpaper.com.

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EarthCoating included in "10 Tips for Sustainable Package Design" article

EarthCoating is included in an article on GreenerPackage.com, "10 Tips for Sustainable Package Design" under item #6, Recyclability.

"Food Packaging Powers Forward as New Technologies Mesh"

Smart Planet Technologies is featured in the cover article of the December 2011 Packaging World magazine. The article begins on Page 31 and our section appears on Page 32.

Our logo also appears on Page 25 as part of the Sustainable Packaging Symposium.

Environmentally Conscious Packaging for Whole Foods Market

Fra’Mani Handcrafted Foods is making some fabulous food exclusively for Whole Foods Market. They selected ARTICO to design and create their unique packaging for this new pre-prepared foods product line. Once the product is finished cooking, the food is flash chilled and packed in air tight pouches that seal in freshness, color and flavor. These pouches are then packed in boxes made of 100% recycled paperboard. To keep the box from falling apart because of the moisture inherent in the packing and refrigeration process, traditionally you would use a plastic coating to line the inside of the box. Instead, ARTICO designed a packaging solution that was more environmentally friendly. In addition to creating a box with 100% recycled content, ARTICO also selected an innovative product to coat the inside of the box: EarthCoating™ by Smart Planet Technologies. EarthCoating™ is a mineral-based coating made of calcium carbonate and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). When compared to 100% plastic coating of 0.75 mil, this application

• Uses from 50% to 70% less plastic by weight
• Reduces Greenhouse Gases by up to 20%
• Reduces Energy Use by up to 10%

Using this environmentally conscious option allows Fra’Mani Handcrafted Foods to reduce their packaging foot print, and deliver a product that is not only good for your body but also good for the environment.

To learn more about Artico and how EarthCoating is being used to support their customers sustainable packaging initiatives, click the following link: http://www.artico-usa.com/resources/sustainability.php

To learn more about EarthCoating™ and other innovative green packaging options, contact Artico or Smart Planet Technologies to discuss your needs. We can find a solution that works for you.

Spicers Paper Signs License Agreement with Smart Planet Technologies to Distribute EarthBoard and EarthCoating

Spicers Paper, North America, has signed a license agreement with Smart Planet Technologies to distribute EarthBoard® and EarthCoating™ throughout North America. About Spicers Paper, North America Spicers Paper, North America, is part of PaperlinX, the world’s leading international fine paper distributor. Spicers Paper, North America, has over 400 employees, across 12 Regions, including Denver CO, Honolulu HI, Kansas City MO, Las Vegas NV, Santa Fe Springs CA, St. Paul MN, Phoenix AZ, Portland OR, San Francisco CA, Seattle WA, St. Louis MO and Salt Lake City UT, where they serve thousands of customers everyday. Spicers strong product offering and sheeting/slitting capabilities gives customers products and services they can depend on and a wide selection to choose from.

About Smart Planet Technologies Smart Planet Technologies is a materials R&D company focused on innovative packaging materials for the packaging industry. Through innovation, their technologies are focused on conservation of precious natural resources and providing high quality, environmental alternatives to a wide variety of rigid, flexible and corrugated packaging applications.

For more information, contact:

Tim Resser Manager, Custom Sheeting & Graphic Packaging Spicers Paper, Inc. 12310 E. Slauson Ave. | Santa Fe Springs, CA | 90670 Mobile (415) 994-8085 | E-Mail: Tim.Resser@spicers.com 

Todd Gasparik Business Development Manager Smart Planet Technologies 2102 Business Center Dr. Irvine, CA 92612 949-253-5845 office 714-280-2280 cell Todd@SmartPlanetTech.com www.SmartPlanetTech.com