POLYONE TO MARKET UV FILTER ADDITIVE FROM CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS TO PROVIDE ENHANCED UV PROTECTION TO PET BOTTLE CONTENTS

CLEVELAND (Aug. 9, 2001) – PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL) announced today that the company has signed a licensing agreement with Ciba Specialty Chemicals (SWX: CIBN; NYSE: CSB). Under the terms of the agreement, PolyOne will market in North America Ciba® Shelfplus™ ultraviolet (UV) filter as an additive concentrate for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle applications. PolyOne will supply the new Ciba UV filter as an UV additive concentrate for use in clear packages. Or the company will compound it into a custom color with its ComPETe-T® pelletized colorants or ComPETe-F® wax-based flake colorants for PET. The Shelfplus UV filter is available immediately through PolyOne.

“This relationship between PolyOne, the leading independent compounder of plastics in the world, and Ciba Special Chemicals, the leading worldwide manufacturer of chemical additives for the plastics industry, just makes good sense,” said Dan Martelli, PET market manager, PolyOne Packaging. “We share a commitment to quality and service, and to a customer and market focus that sees the marriage of the Shelfplus and ComPETe products as the solution to many of our customers’ concerns about UV stability and extended product shelf life for their PET packages.”

The ComPETe line of colorants available from PolyOne are specifically designed to lower the cost to color PET resin and improve the processing platform. In addition, the colorants can provide shot-to-shot color consistency in PET resins used in extrusion and one- and two-stage injection stretch blow molding processes. Manufacturing advantages with ComPETe colorant products include the elimination of screw slippage, increased speed of color changeovers, and elimination of concerns about delamination in the final product.

The ComPETe line of PET colorants are available in three forms to allow customers to match their manufacturing requirements to the most convenient colorant system – pellets, flakes, or liquid color. The Shelfplus additive, however, is not available in the liquid form.

This new additive system provides bottle contents with a higher level of protection from UV damage. The Shelfplus product is able to block out roughly 90 percent of UV light at up to 390 nanometers wavelength – UV light comprises the 280-400 nanometers range of sunlight and is also emitted by fluorescent lighting.

“This significant increase of UV protection over traditional UV concentrates will especially benefit producers of PET packaging for juices and tomato-based products,” said Martelli. “UV light can significantly impact the color, odor, taste, and nutritional value of these and other light-sensitive foods. PolyOne can also solve those problems for our customers. Initial organoliptic and color-stability testing has proved the value of this product in our customers eyes, so we expect to see a lot of demand for this product solution,” Martelli added.

The new additive’s clear color does not interfere with a bottle’s appearance – important for clear or transparent PET bottles whose clarity helps brand packagers establish product differentiation while enhancing shelf stability. The Shelfplus additive also exhibits excellent processing stability.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals is a leading company dedicated to producing high-value effects for its customers’ products. The company’s specialty chemicals, added in small quantities, enhance the performance, look and feel of the final product. Business success is driven by Ciba’s long-term strategy of innovation and continuous operational improvements. Ciba brings new and creative thought to the processes and products of its customers in more than 120 countries. The company’s continuing operations generated sales of CHF 7.9 billion in 2000, and CHF 293 million was spent on R&D to foster innovation across the company.

PolyOne Corporation is an international polymer services company with customer-focused operations in thermoplastic and elastomer compounds, specialty vinyl resins, specialty polymer formulations and inks, engineered films, color

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