USDA BioPreferred(SM) Program Spotlights UniKeep Office Products

PLA Badge Holders and Disc Sleeves BioPreferred Designated Items of the Month


MARYSVILLE, OH--(Marketwire - June 29, 2009) - UniKeep LLC, a Univenture company, is pleased to announce that the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) BioPreferred Program has selected UniKeep's eco-friendly Polylactic Acid (PLA) name badge holders and CD/DVD disc sleeves as the BioPreferred Designated Item of the Month. UniKeep is an award-winning Ohio small business proudly offering products made in the USA.

"Our biobased PLA name badge holders and CD/DVD disc sleeves have been designated for preferred procurement status for Federal and contractor personnel," commented Ross Youngs, CEO of Univenture and UniKeep LLC. "For more than 20 years we have built a strong, environmentally-conscious brand reputation. We are pleased that the U.S. government and its agencies have recognized our green initiatives."

BioPreferred is a Federal program that increases the purchase and use of biobased products made from biological or renewable agricultural materials.

"BioPreferred commends UniKeep on their development of these innovative, biobased conference and media storage materials. Federal agency personnel should explore procurement of these materials for their next event, as these products are a 'natural' solution given Federal green meeting guidelines and are a substitute for conventional petroleum-based materials. Using these alternative, appealing products helps our Nation reduce its dependence on oil," stated Kate Lewis, Deputy Program Manager, BioPreferred.

Offering a sustainable alternative to badge holders made from petroleum, the PLA name badge holders provide a sustainable alternative for meetings and events. They are available in a variety of sizes and colors with pre-punched holes to accommodate an assortment of pins, clips and lanyards. To reduce the need for additional products, the PLA name badge holder easily slips over a button.

The company's CD/DVD disc sleeve made from PLA film is renewable and compostable. The clear disc sleeve, compatible with disc insertion equipment, holds one disc and graphic booklet and allows for increased content visibility. It is ideal for any eco-friendly disc packaging application.

UniKeep LLC, a Univenture company, has been environmentally conscious since its inception and firmly believes in the conservation of both ecological and economical resources. The company is on the GSA Schedule (GSA Contract #GS-02F-0093T). Its core commercial products are available for online purchase at www.gsaadvantage.gov and at the DOD EMALL.

Links to Product Photos and Information:

USDA Article link: www.biopreferred.gov

You Tube Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=80lcQmYSYKU&feature=channel

About UniKeep

Headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, UniKeep LLC, a Univenture company, has won numerous awards and rave reviews for product design, high quality printing and creative customer solutions.

For additional information, call toll free (800) 829-8117, write marketing@unikeep.com, or visit www.unikeep.com.

About the USDA's BioPreferred Program

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the lead Federal agency for the biobased products program, known as BioPreferred. Biobased products are commercial or industrial products (other than food or feed) that are composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products such as agricultural, forestry or marine ingredients. BioPreferred's goals are to increase procurement of biobased products government-wide and increase awareness and sales of these products in the commercial and consumer markets. Biobased products that meet or exceed the minimum biobased content established by USDA earn the right to be called "BioPreferred."

USDA has developed free tools to assist biobased manufacturers and distributors, as well as large scale buyers, with BioPreferred product marketing, sales and purchasing. These tools are available at the BioPreferred website (www.biopreferred.gov).

©2009 UniKeep LLC. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

Contact Information: UniKeep/Univenture Press Contact: Doris Emich Antarra Communications (856) 626-0190 demich@antarra.com UniKeep/Univenture Corporate Contact: Johanna Espinosa Director, Marketing (937) 645-4617 jespinosa@univenture.com USDA Program Contact: Kate Lewis Deputy Program Manager, BioPreferred U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (202) 720-0811 www.biopreferred.gov kate.lewis@usda.gov