OMI Industries' Crystal Gel Earns EPA's Design for the Environment Recognition

LONG GROVE, Ill., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- OMI Industries, makers of eco-friendly odor control products, announced today that their Fresh Wave® and Fresh Wave® IAQ Crystal Gel solution has earned the Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment (DfE) recognition.

The DfE label program recognizes effective products that reduce risk to users and to the environment. In order to determine the safety of such products, the DfE scientific review team screens each ingredient for potential dangers. The stamp is only granted to products that have been proven safe for both families and the environment.

Fresh Wave and Fresh Wave IAQ Crystal Gel uses only proprietary blends of plant oils and extracts to get rid of foul smells without the need for harsh chemicals or masking fragrances. When the formula is activated by airflow, it attracts, captures and eliminates odor molecules. Unlike most competing products, the Crystal Gel is non-toxic, non-hazardous, recyclable, non-aerosol and contains no harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The Fresh Wave Crystal Gel works continuously to eliminate a variety of household smells, including must, smoke and pet odors. The product is sold in over 3,000 independent specialty retailers across the country, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Ace Hardware, True Value, Do It Best and Whole Foods.

The Fresh Wave IAQ Crystal Gel has been created specifically for commercial use and is especially effective at combating persistent odor problems. Companies such as Merry Maids, Jon-Don and ServiceMaster utilize this continuous-release solution to safely and efficiently get rid of lingering odors that affect their clients' homes and businesses.

"We are extremely proud that we can say the Crystal Gel has been recognized as a Design for the Environment product," said Philip M. Coffey, President and Managing Director of OMI Industries. "Passing the EPA's stringent testing and review process validates to consumers that we only manufacture the safest and most eco-friendly odor eliminating solutions."

More information about Fresh Wave and Fresh Wave IAQ Crystal Gel can be found at www.freshwaveworks.com and www.freshwaveiaq.com, respectively.

About OMI Industries

OMI Industries, a worldwide leader in providing natural odor abatement solutions, is a privately-held corporation headquartered in Long Grove, Ill. Founded in 1989, OMI's green engineering solutions solve organic and inorganic odor control issues across three divisions with the Ecosorb® (industrial), Fresh Wave® IAQ (commercial) and Fresh Wave® (consumer) brands. Products from all three brands have received several awards, including the iParenting Media Award for "Best Product in the Housewares Category" and Environmental Protection Magazine's "Product of the Year." Most recently, Fresh Wave IAQ products received the Environmental Protection Agency's "Design for the Environment" (DfE) recognition. All three brands are sold worldwide, both directly and through distributors. Additional OMI facilities include LaPorte, Texas (manufacturing); Rising Sun, Ind. (warehousing and manufacturing); and Ventura, Calif. (R&D). For more on OMI, visit www.omi-industries.com.

SOURCE OMI Industries