SunPower Solar Panels Awarded Cradle to Cradle Certification for Sustainable Manufacturing Processes

First and Only Solar Company to Achieve this Recognition for its Products

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Oct 02, 2014, 08:00 ET

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR), a leading global technology and energy services provider, today announced that its SunPower® E-Series Solar Panel and SunPower® X-Series Solar Panel have been awarded the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver distinction by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. The high efficiency SunPower E-Series and X-Series solar panels, manufactured at the company's factory in Mexicali, Mexico, are the first and only solar products to be awarded this certification, which is based on the sustainable manufacturing processes implemented at this facility.

SunPower solar panels are the most powerful on the market today, offering consumers a world-record efficiency of 21.5 percent. This means that its customers get more electricity, more flexibility and more peace of mind. The SunPower solar panels, manufactured at its Mexicali plant in Mexico, are the first and only to receive Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver product recognition. (PRNewsFoto/SunPower Corp.)

The Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Standard is administered by the Institute and is a comprehensive product quality standard that evaluates product design, manufacturing, corporate citizenship and ethics principles. Products are assessed according to Material Health, Material Reutilization, Renewable Energy Use, Water Stewardship, and Social Fairness.

"Cradle to Cradle product certification is another example of how SunPower facilitates innovative thinking and builds sustainability from the very core of the company's business activities," said Marty Neese, SunPower COO. "It can also serve an additional value to our customers, whether they are looking to boost their own sustainable future or help achieve LEED certification. We are extremely proud of this recognition and look forward to implementing similar programs across all of our solar panel manufacturing facilities."

The products were assessed using the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard by the product design and optimization firm MBDC, one of 13 companies around the world authorized to conduct product analysis for the Institute. Product certification is available at five levels (Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum), with each higher level imposing a more rigorous set of requirements.

"SunPower is the first and only solar company to achieve Cradle to Cradle product certifications, and we applaud their leadership in energy and material health," said Bridgett Luther, president at the Institute. "SunPower's dedication to making the world better through their technology positions them as a leader among leaders, and their commitment to innovation deserves this recognition."

Cradle to Cradle Certified products can be found online in the Product Registry at C2CCertified.org.

About SunPower Corp.
SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpower.com.

About the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to turn the making of things into a positive force for people, the economy and the planet. It stewards the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Program, a system for assessing and continuously improving product quality based upon five categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy, water stewardship, and social fairness. The Institute is headquartered in San Francisco, California with satellite offices in Amsterdam, NL, Venlo, NL and Raleigh, NC.

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SOURCE SunPower Corp.