Breastfeeding and Medela: Nursing for Earth

MCHENRY, Ill., April 27, 2012 / 3BL Media / PRNewswire/ -- During Earth Week and throughout the year, Medela, Inc., promotes breastfeeding as the most natural and ecological way to support the environment in addition to the benefits it provides to mother and baby health. Medela would like to acknowledge breastfeeding moms for doing their share in support of protecting the environment.

Breastmilk is the ultimate, nature-made whole food for baby. There are no preservatives or contaminants found in breastmilk and it is generally not processed or added to in any way. Breastfeeding also saves energy. When baby is able to feed directly from the breast, there is no need to use energy to warm the milk. It is prepared by breastfeeding moms at just the right temperature.

Breastfeeding at the breast is plastic-free and reduces waste. Bottles and packaging take energy to manufacture, promote and recycle, so whenever possible, feeding directly from the breast is the most efficient in terms of reducing waste and saving energy.

As a producer of breastpumps and breastfeeding accessories in support of breastfeeding moms around the country, Medela is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and has been a participant in the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WasteWise program since 2009. As a participant, Medela has established new waste prevention activities and improved its recycling efforts. According to WasteWise, Medela's emission reductions for 2011 are equivalent to the annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from 166 passenger vehicles or the annual emissions from the energy consumption of 82 households, to offer some perspective.

"In addition to promoting breastfeeding as the most natural way to support the environment, Medela is doing its part as an organization to reduce waste and increase recycling efforts," says Carolin Archibald, President, Medela, Inc.

The WasteWise program has a broad and varied membership that reflects the makeup of corporate America. More than 1,100 organizations have joined WasteWise since 1994, demonstrating their leadership in finding cost-effective ways to reduce waste. WasteWise partners include many of the country's leading manufacturers, retailers and service firms, spanning more than 50 different industry sectors. The program also services federal, state and local governments, tribes, and other non-corporate institutions.

About Medela

Medela provides the most technologically advanced breastpumps and breastfeeding accessories to nursing mothers around the world. A long-time champion of breastfeeding, Medela is the only company to develop products based on research by the world's leading lactation experts. As a result, Medela's breastpumps are the number one choice of healthcare professionals and facilities worldwide. Medela has developed an extensive line of products to meet the diverse needs of nursing mothers.  These products include hospital-grade, double and single electric and manual personal breastpumps; breastfeeding accessories such as breast care products and specialty feeding devices. Most recently, Medela introduced 2-Phase Expression®, the only research-based breastpump technology that mimics a baby's nursing rhythm, resulting in faster let-down and milk flow. Founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson in Zug, Switzerland, Medela continues to grow under the ownership of the Larsson family. Medela serves customers through a worldwide network of distribution partners in more than 90 countries and its 15 subsidiaries in Australia, the Benelux countries, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, Sweden, Poland and Switzerland. www.medela.com

Media Contact:
Claudette Yasell
815-578-2452
claudette.yasell@medela.com

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