MINNEAPOLIS, Jul 23, 2009 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- Northern Technologies International Corporation (Nasdaq:NTIC) was one of the 29 biobased exhibitors that participated in the second annual BioPreferred Showcase, held in conjunction with the General Services Administration (GSA) International Products and Services Expo in San Antonio, Texas. The Showcase provided NTIC with the opportunity to highlight its biobased Natur-Tec products to nearly 10,000 members of the Federal purchasing community and vendors.

NTIC's Natur-Tec division featured biobased products such as cutlery, packaging foam, lawn and leaf bags, and can liners that are engineered to be fully biodegradable. Unlike many competing plastic products that claim to be only 'degradable' or 'oxo-degradable', Natur-Tec products fully biodegrade within 180 days in accordance with the ASTM D6400 biodegradability standard for compostable plastics. By using Natur-Tec products as an alternative to conventional plastics, industry and consumers are able to reduce their carbon footprint.

"We were excited to bring our biobased product solutions to the GSA community. We experienced a terrific response to our products, such as the compostable cutlery and bags, and the examples where they are already in use in zero-waste programs in schools and offices," said Vineet Dalal, Vice President of Natur-Tec. "We continue to broaden the channels through which our customers can access our complete line of biobased and compostable products. Recently, we opened our www.naturbag.com e-store, added distribution on the West coast, and are being accepted for composting programs in the most stringent communities for plastic use such as San Francisco, California."

Members of the Federal purchasing community including procurement officials, contracting officers, purchase card holders, program managers and vendors were present at this year's BioPreferred Showcase. Federal employees were able to visit the exhibitor booths to learn more about how to "green" their workplace by purchasing and using biobased products.

The diversity of products available for Federal purchase is impressive, as among the 29 exhibitors featured at this year's Showcase were manufacturers of biobased products including water bottles, carpeting, transformers, cleaners, fertilizers, sorbents and many more. "The BioPreferred Showcase allows biobased manufacturers and exhibitors direct access to the Federal procurement officials who are required by farm bill stipulations to give purchasing preference to biobased products," says Ron Buckhalt, BioPreferred Program Manager. "This year's Showcase was a tremendous success, featuring 29 exhibitors -- nearly double that of last year's Showcase."

About Northern Technologies International Corporation

Northern Technologies International Corporation develops and markets proprietary environmentally beneficial products and technical services either directly or via a network of joint ventures and independent distributors in over 50 countries. NTIC's Natur-Tec branded products are engineered using a proprietary and patented blend of natural plant based polymers and organic materials to create biobased (renewable resource based) and biodegradable plastics. These products do not contain any conventional plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene. The exceptionally broad Natur-Tec bioplastics portfolio spans flexible film, foam, rigid injection molded materials and engineered plastics. For more information on Natur-Tec, visit www.natur-tec.com or contact Matt Wolsfeld at (763) 225-6600 or mwolsfeld@ntic.com

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About BioPreferred

As its name indicates, the BioPreferred Showcase is sponsored by BioPreferred, a Federal program led by the United States Department of Agriculture. The BioPreferred program serves to increase the purchase and use of biobased products made from biological or agricultural materials. To date, BioPreferred has identified more than 15,000 biobased products commercially available across approximately 200 categories. A complete list and detailed description of each BioPreferred designated item category, and items for future designation, can be found at the USDA BioPreferred Web page: www.biopreferred.gov. Please contact biopreferred@usda.gov with questions or to receive additional information on BioPreferred.

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SOURCE: Northern Technologies International Corporation

Northern Technologies International Corporation
          Matt Wolsfeld
          (763) 225-6600
          mwolsfeld@ntic.com

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