The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the big boy of lawn-and-garden products, is suing a tiny New Jersey company that produces organic fertilizer made of worm poop.
Yes, this is the very same company that sent me free worm poop samples. The company, TerraCycle, manufacturers all-natural fertilizers made from a worm poop compost tea and packaged in recycled soda bottles.
Scotts claims TerraCycle’s yellow and green packaging infringes on its brand. Scotts also doesn’t like TerraCycle claiming its worm poop works better and is safer than synthetic fertilizers. Check out the David and Goliath comparison on the “Sued by Scotts” Web site (http://www.suedbyscotts.com). See the entire complaint here: http://www.suedbyscotts.com/Letter_and_Complaint_against_TerraCycle.pdf
Since I had a whole box of TerraCycle’s worm poop products sitting on my desk, I can tell you that I had no trouble figuring out this wasn’t a Scotts Miracle-Gro product. I knew this in part because the contents weren’t Smurf blue.
It’s worth noting that Scotts is increasing its organic product offerings. I sat in on a teleconference on organic trends and a representative of Scotts said the company’s goal is to be the “undisputed leader in organic and natural products.”
Right after they sue the competition to death.
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