Just in time for Earth Day 2008, TROPICLEAN natural pet grooming products is unveiling its latest eco-friendly innovation: packaging made from corn, not petroleum-based ingredients used to make most plastic containers.

TROPICLEAN products – which include shampoos, conditioners, colognes and deodorizers – are now formulated with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients. The company is taking its environmental commitment to a new level by becoming the first U.S. personal grooming or pet products company to use this new natural packaging (and only the second U.S. company – in any product category – to do so).

Beginning this week, retail sizes (20 oz.) of TROPICLEAN products will be in the new packaging, produced in the United States from corn. Besides their natural and sustainable ingredients, the bottle and sleeve are biodegradable. Depending on landfill or compost conditions, the new TROPICLEAN bottles and sleeves will biodegrade within 3 to 6 months. All other TROPICLEAN packaging (including the bottle’s caps) is made from 50% recycled packaging and completely recyclable.

TROPICLEAN is the #1-selling natural pet grooming line at Petco stores nationwide. It’s also sold at Pet Supplies Plus, Petland and Superpetz stores throughout the United States, and in more than 10,000 independent pet stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, Japan, Israel, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Ireland and the Netherlands. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of the 20-oz. size ranges from $8.99 to $10.99.

The brand is particularly popular among professional groomers, veterinarians and kennels because of the products’ fresh, clean fragrances, and formulations that leave pets’ coats soft, shiny and naturally clean.

TROPICLEAN products in new biodegradable packaging include:

SHAMPOOS

• Aloe Moist all-purpose economy shampoo.
• Awapuhi White Shampoo gently cleans while making a pet’s coat white and brighter.
• Berry Clean Shampoo is designed to clean the dirtiest pets while promoting a luxurious coat.
• Kava Shampoo promotes stress-free bathing, while helping to heal dry, irritated skin.
• Neem Citrus Shampoo offers a natural alternative to insecticides for pets with flea problems.
• Oatmeal & Tea Tree Shampoo helps heal dry, irritated skin while eliminating odor-causing fungus. Help relieve itching, scaling, dandruff, hot spots and flea bite dermatitis.
• Puppy & Kitten Shampoo is a tearless, quick-rinsing coconut shampoo.

CONDITIONERS

• Kiwi Conditioner eliminates static and tangles.
• Papaya Plus Shampoo is a one-step shampoo and conditioner.

Products in bottles made with recycled materials with fully biodegradable sleeves include:

• DEODORIZING SPRAYS: Fresh Breeze deodorizing spray eliminates odors at the source (available in 8 oz. retail sizes)
• COLOGNES in a conditioning, detangling spritz (for dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits and hamsters; available in 8 oz. retail sizes)
• Berry Fresh Cologne
• Papaya Mist Cologne
• Peach Kava Cologne
• Baby Powder Cologne

BITTER TASTING CHEW DETERRENT: Stay Away is safe, but made from the bitterest ingredient on earth to discourage animals from chewing, biting, licking or gnawing on wounds, plants, furniture or anything it’s coated with (available in 8 oz. retail size).

ABOUT TROPICLEAN

Founded in 1990, suburban St. Louis-based TROPICLEAN manufactures a range of natural pet products including shampoos, conditioners and other grooming products. TROPICLEAN products are formulated with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients that promote a naturally shiny, healthy coat. TROPICLEAN products are available in thousands of retail outlets throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Japan, Israel and the Netherlands.

Continuing its commitment to environmental sustainability and naturally sourced products, in April 2008, TROPICLEAN will begin packaging its 20 oz. retail products in corn-based bottles manufactured in the United States, the first U.S. personal grooming or pet products company to do so. The bottles also will biodegrade within 3 to 6 months, depending on landfill or compost conditions.

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