Many of us have heard the acronym "ESG" at one point or another, but what does it mean? ESG stands for "environmental, social, governance," and is a business' commitment to implementing conscious, educated policies and procedures, thus leaving a positive impact on employees and society as a whole. From the products produced to the treatment of associates, there are many ways companies can demonstrate their ESG efforts. At Scotts®, our ESG commitments demonstrate how we live out our purpose to GroMoreGood everywhere. We do this by aligning our business practices in ways that are good for our planet, people, and communities.

One of our most recent ESG efforts is reflected in the release of our Ortho® GroundClear® Weed & Grass Killer Super Concentrate Flexible Refill Pouch. Don't worry - the same effective weed killing formula of GroundClear Super Concentrate is still used! We just decided to put it in an innovative pouch. These pouches provide consumers with a simple user experience, eliminating guesswork and messiness. They are pre-measured with the exact amount of concentrate to make a half gallon of product, and can easily be used in a tank sprayer or convenient Ortho® reusable bottle. The biggest highlight of the pouches, however? They reduce plastic waste by up to 90%.

Ortho® GroundClear® Weed & Grass Killer Super Concentrate Flexible Refill Pouch is just the beginning. By 2025, we plan to increase consumer brand packaging that can be recycled or reused by 50%, reduce plastic material used in packaging by 3%, and increase the amount of recycled content in plastic packaging by 15%. So, how will we get there?

Increase Consumer Brand Packaging That Can be Recycled or Reused by 50%

Our package redesign initiatives are resulting in significant material reduction. We continue to explore ways to substantially reduce the size and weight of packages, such as selling more products in concentrated form.

Reduce Plastic Material Used in Packaging by 3%

Increasing the amount of recycled material in plastic packaging reduces petrochemical use and emissions. During the past year, we've made significant progress toward qualifying increased amounts of recycled content in both our rigid and flexible plastic packaging. This testing phase is the critical first step in meeting our goal of tripling the amount of recycled content in plastic packaging by 2025.

Increase the Amount of Recycled Content in Plastic Packaging by 15%

We are starting to transition some of our packages to materials that are more compatible with today's recycling infrastructure. We continue to use the standardized labeling system How2Recycle® on our products to communicate recycling and proper disposal instructions to the public. We plan to incorporate this standard into all packaging that is not subject to other recycling communication standards, some of which may be required by specific environmental regulations. The majority of our paper fiber-based packaging is certified as sustainably sourced by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and we strive to increase this quantity to 100%.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company strives for continuous improvement in our strategy and leadership that advances sustainability and demonstrates how we are growing more good in our corner of the world. We believe that everyone can grow more good, not only in their own backyards, but in the greater world around them.