Cintas Takes Home 2011 UNIVATOR Award

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cintas Corporation today announced it is the winner of a 2011 UNIVATOR Award for its EcoGeneration by Cintas™ scrub collection in the “Eco-Friendly Innovation” category. The UNIVATOR Awards, sponsored by UniformMarket News, honor the leading ideas, creations, services and innovators which have influenced the uniform industry over the past year. This is the third consecutive year Cintas has won this prestigious award.

“In these areas, Cintas hits a home run.”

"Benefits to the environment notwithstanding, the real test of any uniform program is measured by the style, fit and comfort of the garments,” said Rick Levine, editor, UniformMarket News. “In these areas, Cintas hits a home run.”

The “Eco-Friendly Innovation” award is given to apparel lines that use progressive methods to make environmentally friendly clothing. Qualifications for the award are based upon reducing energy, pollutant and waste during the production process.

EcoGeneration Cintas™ scrubs use recycled plastic bottles diverted from landfills. The bottles are broken down and woven into a wearable, comfortable fabric constructed of a recycled polyester-cotton blend. For every scrub outfit, seven plastic bottles are saved from landfills.

The healthcare industry has more than 13 million workers, making the positive environmental impact for this product potentially huge. Recycling plastic fibers saves 33 percent of the energy consumed compared to manufacturing virgin fiber and reduces carbon emissions by 47 percent.

“It is a great honor to be chosen for the UNIVATOR Award,” said Brent Schafer, Vice President of Healthcare, Cintas. “Our vision to empower caregivers with innovative solutions is carried out with an introduction such as the EcoGeneration scrubs an environmentally responsible garment with excellent wearability.”

For more information about the UNIVATOR Awards, visit www.uniformmarketnews.com.

For more information about Cintas EcoGeneration Scrubs, please visit www.cintashealthcare.com/scrubs.

About Cintas:

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.