ScottsMiracle-Gro Announces New Corporate Responsibility Strategy and Goals
Rhea-AI Summary
ScottsMiracle-Gro (NYSE: SMG) released its 2026 Corporate Responsibility Report and introduced GroForward 2030, a refreshed corporate responsibility strategy aligned with its SMG 2.0 multi-year growth plan. The framework is built around three pillars: Products you can count on, Practices you can be proud of and People you grow with.
According to ScottsMiracle-Gro, key 2030 goals include ensuring 100% of new products meet at least one defined sustainability criterion mapped to UN SDGs 3, 12 and 15, reducing Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from a 2024 baseline, cutting purchased water intensity by 10%, achieving 50% associate participation in its Give Back to Gro program, supporting at least 3,000 acres of natural habitat and investing $10 million in community improvement. The report also highlights 2025 milestones such as 50% sales growth in Miracle-Gro Organics, manufacturing growing media within 150 miles of point-of-sale, a 40% compressed-air energy reduction at its Marysville fertilizer plant, diversion of 344,445 pounds of plastic through a recycling partnership, and $1.96 million in grants distributed by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation.
Positive
- Miracle-Gro Organics sales growth 50% in 2025
- Energy use 40% reduction for compressed air at Marysville fertilizer plant
- Plastic waste diversion 344,445 pounds via Trex recycling partnership
- Community grants $1.96 million distributed by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation in 2025
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – SMG
In the Jul 21 session, SMG declined 1.11%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 09 | Organic product showcase | Positive | +0.1% | Showcased modernized organic gardening portfolio and product demonstrations at Cultivate ’26. |
| Jul 07 | Community initiative launch | Positive | -0.4% | Launched soccer initiative covering registration fees and equipment for up to 400 girls. |
| Jun 29 | Leadership succession | Positive | -3.2% | Named Nate Baxter CEO and reaffirmed fiscal 2026 outlook and financial targets. |
| Jun 18 | Executive appointment | Positive | -3.1% | Appointed Nick Miaritis chief brand officer to oversee brands and marketing. |
| Jun 11 | Community contribution | Positive | +4.2% | Committed $1 million in cash, product and expertise to restore White House South Lawn. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
SMG's recent positive corporate or brand announcements produced mixed results, with three of five comparable events showing negative price reactions.
Key Terms
scope 1 technical
scope 2 technical
greenhouse gas emissions technical
un sustainable development goals technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
GroForward 2030 focuses on products, practices and people
Initiative outlined in 2026 Corporate Responsibility Report
MARYSVILLE, Ohio, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America, today announced the release of its 2026 Corporate Responsibility Report.
The report, available on the ScottsMiracle-Gro website, memorializes the Company’s progress in 2025 toward its corporate responsibility commitments and demonstrates a shift in its approach to corporate responsibility through 2030, branded as GroForward 2030 and grounded in delivering responsibly produced solutions backed by science and built for real life. GroForward 2030 aims to best serve the Company’s stakeholders while embodying its purpose to GroMoreGood, everywhere.
“GroForward 2030 builds on our history of success in sustainability to create many more opportunities for positive impacts to the benefit of our Company and all those with whom we do business,” said Nate Baxter, president and CEO. “Just as importantly, our reinvigorated approach to corporate responsibility is a reflection of input from our stakeholders and aligns with our multi-year SMG 2.0 growth strategy.”
Baxter noted that the consumer and retail environment are changing, and the Company is adapting through SMG 2.0, whose key elements include:
- Innovation to optimize the portfolio, including more products centered on naturals, organics and indoor and outdoor growing.
- Channel expansion, primarily ecommerce but also in expanded retailer partnerships and professional do-it-for-me yard care.
- Category growth by engaging emerging consumers and broader demographic groups.
- Operational efficiencies and savings to ensure the best-in-class supply chain.
GroForward 2030 builds on SMG 2.0 with goals centered on the core principles of Products you can count on, Practices you can be proud of and People you grow with.
GroForward 2030 Goals
Products You Can Count On
- Designing for Sustainability:
100% of new products introduced will align with at least one defined sustainability criterion mapped directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 12 and 15). - Consumer Experience: Increase the percentage of the ScottsMiracle-Gro product catalog with an average consumer star rating of 4.0 or higher by
25% from the fiscal 2025 baseline.
Practices You Can Be Proud Of
- Climate and Energy Efficiency: Reduce total absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by
20% by fiscal 2030 from a fiscal 2024 baseline. - Environmental Stewardship: Drive a
10% reduction in purchased water intensity across all operated facilities against a fiscal 2024 baseline to build operational resource efficiency.
People You Grow With
- Supporting Communities: Achieve a
50% associate participation rate in the Company’s Give Back to Gro volunteer time off program. - Biodiversity Investment: Support the protection, management or restoration of at least 3,000 acres of natural habitat through biodiversity-related grants and partnerships.
- Community Impact: Invest
$10 million to improve communities through strategic partnerships and charitable contributions.
Among milestones achieved in 2025 and recognized in the report:
- Product Innovation:
50% sales growth of Miracle-Gro Organics, the successful revival of the O.M. Scott & Sons heritage brand with100% curbside-recyclable packaging and targeted pest-control technology, such as the new Ortho Mosquito Kill & Prevent product. - Eco-Efficiency and Sourcing: Manufacturing of growing media within 150 miles of point-of-sale destinations to lower fuel use and source locally,
40% reduction in energy usage for compressed air in the Marysville fertilizer plant and diversion of 344,445 pounds of plastic waste diverted from landfills through the Trex recycling partnership. - Associate Well-Being: Launch of Lyra Health mental wellness platform and earning the Human Rights Campaign's Equality 100 Leader title for the fourth consecutive year.
- Community Impact: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation distributing
$1.96 million in grants, and Marysville campus associate gardens donating over 6,700 pounds of fresh produce to local Ohio food banks.
About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately
For media inquiries:
Tom Matthews
Chief Communications Officer
tom.matthews@scotts.com
(937) 844-3864
For investor inquiries:
Brad Chelton
Vice President
Treasury, Tax and Investor Relations
brad.chelton@scotts.com
(937) 309-2503
