The Scotts Miracle Gro Co
SMG
Materials
1
exclusion reason
1 theme
This page is part of our public exclusion list — a transparency tool that shows which companies we screen out and why. It is not investment advice, and it is not an accusation. But it is subject to change as our understanding of the facts evolves.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is a major manufacturer and distributor of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and lawn care products. In 2008, the EPA ordered the recall of four of the company's pesticide products that were illegal, unregistered, and misbranded. The company pleaded guilty in 2012 to federal charges for treating its wild bird food with a pesticide known to be toxic to birds, resulting in a $4 million penalty. This followed a 2008 plea agreement where the company paid $12.5 million for selling misbranded and unregistered pesticides. The pattern of regulatory violations extends to environmental permits; in 2024, a Scotts subsidiary, Hyponex Corp., reached a $100,000 settlement with the EPA for alleged violations of pollutant discharge limits at its Ohio facility.
Research Sources
5 organizations
Related Exclusions
Wondering what we do invest in?
The Naughty List
A digest of changes to our exclusion list — new additions, removals, and the evidence behind them. We review the list continuously as new evidence surfaces.
Companies appear on our exclusion list based on our investment judgment — not because they've done anything illegal. This is a difference of values and opinion, not an accusation of wrongdoing. Exclusion does not constitute a recommendation against investing in any company, and absence from the list does not constitute a recommendation to invest.
This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Data is drawn from independent watchdogs, NGOs, government registries, and Ethical Capital's ongoing research — see Research Sources for the full list.
Ethical Capital LLC is a state-registered investment adviser in Utah (CRD #316032). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.