Product Development

In Balance with the Environment

ScottsMiracle-Gro studies the environmental interaction of its product designs, formulations and packaging processes. Multiple reviews are conducted throughout the product development process to ensure that our products are easy to choose, easy to use and deliver the results homeowners expect. This includes safety to people, the environment and animals.

Our efforts to develop environmentally responsible products include:

Ortho® Weed-B-Gon® Max Singles
  • Design innovations in our spreaders, feeding systems and applicators that improve the accuracy and precision of product use
  • Ready-to-use products that eliminate the need for measuring and mixing
  • Clear instructions placed on our packaging that promote environmental responsibility and adoption of best cultural practices
  • Development of single-use product packets that feature a new package design that ensures the proper amount of product is applied
  • Packaging innovations that significantly reduce both waste and raw material usage of our product lines. This includes the replacement of paper bags with tear-resistant plastic packaging, decreasing product spillage in stores by 75 percent, and lessening the likelihood of product entering storm sewers
  • Reformulation of our lawn fertilizers to reduce phosphorus content by 50 percent to help protect the Chesapeake Bay water system
The Organic Leader

ScottsMiracle-Gro continues to expand its existing naturals and organic product lines. The Company is the largest user of organic production process materials and one of the largest providers of organic garden products in the United States. We also currently recycle 3.2 billion pounds of organic material annually in the production of growing media products.

New lawn fertilizer products were recently launched to reflect the growth in the naturals area. These products will join the Company's existing organic offerings which include the Miracle-Gro® Organic Choice® line of potting mix, garden soil and garden fertilizers introduced in 2003. All Organic Choice products contain nutrients from pasteurized chicken manure and other natural sources.

To further broaden our organic outreach, ScottsMiracle-Gro acquired the Rod McLellan Company in addition to the Whitney Farms brand of all natural, premium organic soils, fertilizers and mulches. Whitney Farms is an exclusive label, distributed solely through independent garden centers and retailers.

In Canada, the Scotts EcoSense® line of products provides alternatives to traditional lawn and garden care products. Ingredients in the EcoSense offering are derived from sources such as chrysanthemum extract, feather meal, diatomaceous earth, acetic acid (vinegar), wheat and insect pheromones.

Designing for User Safety

The Home Safety Council awarded its Commendation Seal for Safety Innovation to ScottsMiracle-Gro for its new Pull 'n Spray II applicator. The Commendation Seal recognizes outstanding product innovations that enhance consumer safety.

In 2000, ScottsMiracle-Gro voluntarily recalled products that contained the older Pull 'n Spray® delivery design. That system—used in both weed and pest control products and developed by Ortho prior to the Company purchasing the business—was meant to provide multiple applications of product from a sprayer wand with one pull of the applicator handle. However, due to design issues with the handle, liquid product had the potential to be discharged into the air. Although the probability of accidental discharge was extremely low, ScottsMiracle-Gro removed Pull 'n Spray from the market.

After voluntarily disclosing the design flaw to the EPA, the Company implemented a full redesign and, in 2004, the new Pull 'n Spray II applicator was introduced. With all liquid product now being siphoned into the sprayer wand, the new applicator directs product onto only the targeted area. This means more of the product remains in the yard helping to protect our water systems and environment.

Recycling Raw Materials

A variety of raw materials are used in the patented Turf Builder® manufacturing process. Ammonium sulfate, which provides agronomic benefits to growing healthy lawns, is a key ingredient that composes up to one third of the final Turf Builder product. While most of our Turf Builder raw materials are created specifically for use in the fertilizer, the ammonium sulfate that ScottsMiracle-Gro uses is an industrial by-product from the production of nylon.

Historically, ammonium sulfate was considered a waste product. Researchers identified the agronomic value of this waste material, allowing us to turn a disposal problem into a useful product. Today, ScottsMiracle-Gro uses more than 200 million pounds of ammonium sulfate in the annual production of Turf Builder products.