8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 2, 2011

CEREPLAST, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada	001-34689	91-2154289
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

300 N. Continental, Suite 100, El Segundo California	90245
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (310) 615-1900

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events

On May 2, 2011, Cereplast, Inc. issued press releases in the U.S. and Italy announcing that it is establishing an Italian —based bioplastic manufacturing plant. The full text of the press releases are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2.

Item 9.01

99.1	Press Release dated May 2, 2011
99.2	Press Release dated May 2, 2011 issued in Cannara, Italy.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: May 3, 2011

CEREPLAST, INC.
 

/s/ Frederic Scheer  

Frederic Scheer 

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

CEREPLAST TO ESTABLISH ITALY-BASED BIOPLASTIC MANUFACTURING PLANT

— New Location to Create Efficiencies and Enable Continued Expansion into European Market —
— Project to be Financed by Local Italian Financial Institutions —
— Plant Expected to Have 100,000 Tons of Capacity —

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 2, 2011 — Cereplast, Inc. (NASDAQ: CERP), a leading manufacturer of proprietary biobased, compostable and sustainable plastics, today announced it is establishing a bioplastics manufacturing plant in Assisi (Cannara), Italy.

“This is a significant step in Cereplast’s evolution,” said Frederic Scheer, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast. “The development of this plant in Italy reflects Cereplast’s continued commitment to providing bioplastic resin to meet soaring demand for this material in the European market. After exploring possible sites in several countries in Europe, we identified a central location in Italy, where we have established several strong distribution relationships. In addition, the Italian government has expressed its strong support for the development and use of bioplastics, therefore it was the obvious location choice for our plant.”

Scheer continued, “Currently, 85% of our business is based in Europe. We believe this new plant will create efficiencies, reduce transportation costs and minimize risks in our business. The market for bioplastics in the European Union is expected to be one million tons by 2014 according to European Plastics. This new manufacturing facility will position Cereplast to effectively serve that expanding market.”

The plans for the plant include a total capacity of approximately 100,000 tons, or about 220 million pounds. This is expected to occur in several phases: the first phase of 50,000 tons is expected to start manufacturing in late-2012, and the second phase of 50,000 tons is planned to begin manufacturing in mid-2013, based on market demand. The plant will be developed on the site of a former industrial plant and is expected to be approximately 125,000 square feet in size. The site is currently permitted as a chemical site, which will enable the company to benefit from existing infrastructure.

The plant will be owned and run by Cereplast Italia SPA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cereplast, Inc. This venture will be financed through local and regional financing with Italian institutions and is expected to receive subsidies from various state and local agencies. The initial investment is estimated to be about €10 million to €12 million.

“Umbria is centrally located in central Italy and has a worldwide reputation for being one of the most respectful regions in terms of the natural environment. As such, Cereplast is the perfect company for our region with their focus on green technology,” said Vinicio Bottacchiari, Executive Director of Sviluppumbria, a regional agency. “The new plant when completed will bring about 150 new jobs to our area and we are very excited to have Cereplast as part of our community.”

Conference Call

The company will discuss this development in more detail on its first quarter 2011 conference call and live webcast on May 16^th, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. PDT (5:00 p.m. EDT). To join the live conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time: 877-312-5508. International callers should dial 253-237-1135. A live webcast and archive of the call will also be available on the Investor Relations section of Cereplast’s website at www.cereplast.com.

About Cereplast, Inc.

Cereplast, Inc. (NASDAQ: CERP) designs and manufactures proprietary bio-based, sustainable plastics which are used as substitutes for petroleum-based plastics in all major converting processes — such as injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding and extrusions — at a pricing structure that is competitive with petroleum-based plastics. On the cutting-edge of bio-based plastic material development, Cereplast now offers resins to meet a variety of customer demands. Cereplast Compostables^® Resins are ideally suited for single use applications where high bio-based content and compostability are advantageous, especially in the food service industry. Cereplast Sustainables™ Resins combine high bio-based content with the durability and endurance of traditional plastic, making them ideal for applications in industries such as automotive, consumer electronics and packaging. Learn more at www.cereplast.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “may,” “intend,” “expect” and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company.

Contacts:

Cereplast, Inc.
Nicole Cardi
(310) 615-1900 x154
ncardi@cereplast.com

Lippert Heilshorn & Associates
Tim Dien/Mary Magnani
(415) 433-3777
tdien@lhai.com

# # #

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

[Logo CEREPLAST
www.cereplast.com]

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN ECONOMY: A CEREPLAST ITALIAN PLANT AT CANNARA ON MAY 5, 2011. THE PRESENTATION IN PERUGIA WITH CEO FREDERIC SCHEER.

Cannara (Perugia). May 2. — In Italy, precisely at Cannara, in 12-14 months, will be built the plant for the European market of one of the leading companies of the American “green economy,” CEREPLAST of California, specialized in the production of bioplastic resin from renewable sources — such as maize, wheat, potato. The resins are used in the creation of a vast range of products which can replace traditional plastic products based on petrol in a more advantageous manner from the economic and ecological point of view.

The Umbria plant, which will be built on the site of the former Ferro Italia, with an overall investment of about 12 million Euros during the first three years, when completed will produce 100 thousand tons of bioplastic resins, by employing about 150 men, including production, research and management personnel.

Cereplast CEO Frederic Scheer will be on hand to present the project to the regional and local institutions, to other entrepreneurial associations, labor groups, University personnel and the press in a conference to be held on May 5, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Perugia in the Chamber of Commerce offices located in Via Mazzini. The regional assessor for the economy, Gianluca Rossi and the president of Sviluppumbria, Calogero Alessi, will attend the conference.

Scheer will explain the reasons that have induced the American company to choose the Region of Umbria and the Cannara site — that won the bid presented by Sviluppumbria that owns the area — for building its plant destined to supply the European market, by illustrating in details the manners and time limits of the investment. Cereplast, which is listed on the Nasdaq, has already an important exchange with Italian companies to which it supplies bioplastics for the creation of eco-compatible products for packaging, electronic and pharmaceutical industry, furniture, as well as for disposable cutlery, glasses, dishes and food containers.

www.cereplast.com

COMUNICATO STAMPA

GREEN ECONOMY: A CANNARA STABILIMENTO ITALIANO DELLA CEREPLAST IL 5 MAGGIO 2011 PRESENTAZIONE A PERUGIA CON CEO FREDERIC SCHEER.

Cannara (Perugia), 2 maggio — Sorgerà in Italia, a Cannara, entro 12-14 mesi, lo stabilimento per il mercato europeo di una delle aziende protagoniste della ‘green economy’ americana, la californiana CEREPLAST, specializzata nella produzione di resine bioplastiche da risorse rinnovabili — come mais, frumento, patate — utili alla realizzazione di una vasta gamma di prodotti che possono sostituire in modo più vantaggioso sul piano economico ed ecologico quelli in plastica tradizionale basata sul petrolio.

L’ impianto umbro, che sarà realizzato sul sito della ex Ferro Italia con un investimento complessivo nei primi tre anni intorno ai 12 milioni di euro, produrrà a regime 100 mila tonnellate di resine bioplastiche, arrivando a impiegare nei prossimi anni circa 150 dipendenti, fra addetti alla produzione, ricercatori e management.

Sarà lo stesso CEO di Cereplast, Frederic Scheer, a presentare l’iniziativa alle istituzioni regionali e locali, alle associazioni imprenditoriali, sindacali, all’ Università degli Studi, alla stampa, in una conferenza che si terrà il 5 maggio 2011, alle ore 11, a Perugia, nel Centro servizi camerali, in via Mazzini. Alla conferenza prenderanno parte l’assessore regionale all’economia, Gianluca Rossi, e il presidente di Sviluppumbria, Calogero Alessi.

Scheer spiegherà le ragioni che hanno portato l’azienda americana a scegliere l’Umbria e il sito di Cannara — aggiudicandosi il bando progettato dalla Sviluppumbria, proprietaria dell’area — per impiantare il proprio stabilimento destinato a rifornire il mercato europeo, illustrando in dettaglio modalità e tempi dell’investimento. Cereplast, quotata al Nasdaq, ha già un significativo business con aziende italiane alle quali fornisce bioplastiche per la realizzazione di prodotti ecocompatibili per l’imballaggio, l’industria elettronica e farmaceutica, l’arredamento, e ancora posate, bicchieri, piatti e contenitori per alimenti monouso.