We’re concerned about the environmental impact of packaging. At the same time, effective packaging is crucial to preserving the integrity and efficacy of our products. We strike this balance for consumers through a sustainable packaging strategy focused on three elements:

• Reducing the amount of our packaging through innovative designs
• Maximizing post-consumer recycled materials and reducing virgin plastics where possible
• Incorporating recycle-friendly materials, such as paper, to make it easier for consumers to recycle our packaging

Many of our products are stored outside and often in harsh conditions. This includes bags of fertilizer, soil and mulch in retail settings and garden centers. Plastic is the best material for protecting these products for consumers, and we’ve designed our bags to use thinner-gauge plastic films and more post-consumer recycled material. We also seek to reduce virgin plastic through refillable options for our liquid products. Ortho Home Defense Max 1.5L Refill Pouch enables consumers to refill the rigid bottle and applicator, leading to an average 90 percent reduction in plastic by weight compared to traditional ready-to-use packages.

Our O.M Scott & Sons brand features 100-percent recyclable paper packaging, meeting rigorous testing standards and achieving How2Recycle® certification. Approximately 90 percent of our paper packaging is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiatives or Forest Stewardship Council. We are exploring the use of paper for more applications, such as refill options for products currently sold in plastic jugs.

We have broadened the use of post-consumer content (PCR) in key aspects of our product portfolio, including 25-percent PCR content in one-gallon bottles for pest and weed control and 50 percent in Osmocote bottles.

Our packaging strategy is compatible with today’s recycling infrastructure, and we use the How2Recycle® label to help consumers understand product recyclability and proper packaging disposal. Multiple states have adopted State Extended Producer Responsibility laws, which further guide our packaging efforts.