Is TerraCycle's Eco-Friendly Plant Food Really a Threat to Scotts Miracle-Gro?

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In summary, Scotts Miracle-Gro is suing TerraCycle, a small eco-friendly company, over claims that their product packaging looks similar and their product is as good as a leading synthetic plant food. TerraCycle's test data is considered proprietary and they refuse to turn it over to Scotts. There is speculation that Scotts is using this lawsuit as a way to eliminate competition from the eco-friendly market.
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TerraCycle sued by Scotts Miracle-Gro
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, a $2.2 billion assets giant which has at least a 59% share of the relevant market, has sued tiny TerraCycle, Inc., an inner-city company founded by college students to create an eco-friendly business. TerraCycle manufactures all-natural garden products by feeding organic waste to worms and bottling the resulting worm poop compost tea as ready-to use plant food in soda bottles collected by schools and other charities across North America. TerraCycle is located in the Urban Enterprise Zone of Trenton, New Jersey.

Scotts claims that the two companies' products look similar and will confuse customers because some TerraCycle plant foods have a green and yellow label with a circle and a picture of flowers and vegetables on it.

Scotts also objects that TerraCycle says its plant food is as good or better than "a leading synthetic plant food" and is refusing Scotts' demands that TerraCycle hand over its scientific tests conducted at the Rutgers University EcoComplex to Scotts' scientists and lawyers. Scotts refuses to turn its tests over to TerraCycle.

TerraCycle's test data are considered proprietary. If Rutger's U did an independent test, that should be good enough. Both parties can have an independent arbitor do an independent test.

I just don't see that the two products packaging looks alike.
http://www.suedbyscotts.com/uploaded_images/MC-comparison-780432.gif
 
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  • #2
They are using as an excuse to wipe out the eco-friendly competition because they know people will naturally go for the 'good for the environment' brands since everyones all hyped up over the environment now
 
  • #3
Good for TerraCycle! They must be making a difference if Scotts is worried.
 
  • #4
Ki Man said:
They are using as an excuse to wipe out the eco-friendly competition because they know people will naturally go for the 'good for the environment' brands since everyones all hyped up over the environment now

Very possible. Even without much of a case, they could be hoping that just the legal costs alone will put the small company out of business before they ever have a chance to become bigger competition.
 
  • #5
Astronuc said:
I just don't see that the two products packaging looks alike.[/url]

I can see the TerraCycle bottle getting confused for Lipton's Ice Tea, but certainly not the other bottle in that picture. :rolleyes:
 
  • #6
I know Miracle Gro works & I will continue to use it, but the lawsuit is ridiculous.
 

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