We explore the intersection of math, science, technology, and curiosity to showcase our latest ideas, articles, and news on Product Intelligence.
Blake Weems | October 26, 2022
With the busiest retail season of the year around the corner, it’s important to make sure brands and suppliers review their retailer agreements for formulated and regulated products. At Smarter Sorting, we're here to help you stay compliant and get products on to shelf as fast as possible. Read more.
Haley Salzwedel | October 14, 2022
To reduce the number of incidents with improperly handled batteries, two bills were recently signed into law in the state of California.
Read more.
Joey D'Alesio | July 13, 2022
Consumers expect both brands and retailers to prioritize waste reduction and diversion. But there is a misconception throughout the retail community that diversion pathways for regulated waste don’t exist. Read more.
Joey D'Alesio | July 12, 2022
The Product Intelligence PlatformTM is the place where products are classified. It's a platform for retailers and brand manufacturers to collaborate. Read more.
Joey D'Alesio | June 23, 2022
On Earth911’s Sustainability in Your Ear podcast, Mitch Ratcliffe has an in-depth conversation with Jacqueline Claudia (CEO, Smarter Sorting) about the ways Smarter Sorting is helping retailers and brands reduce their environmental impact. Read more.
Haley Salzwedel | June 1, 2022
As the consumption of consumer electronics increases, and the obligations to handle electronics in a safe and sustainable way becomes more and more important, it’s essential that retailers and manufacturers know their obligations. Read More.
Haley Lasseter | May 11, 2022
We sat down with three of Smarter Sorting's female math nerds to talk about why math matters from academia through to a career in data, ESG and computing. Read more.
Haley Salzwedel | April 21, 2022
Packaging makes purchasing goods easy and convenient. But it can have long-lasting impacts on the environment and human health that can’t be ignored. We sat down with an independent packaging expert, Dr. Michael Washburn, for an in depth Q&A session. Read more.
Jake LaCivita | April 19, 2022
When retail waste streams are handled correctly and sustainably, e.g. recycling, donations, and stewardship of regulated products, retailers are one step closer to their ESG goals. US Ecology has hit 100,000 Smarter Sorting powered retail pickups. Read more.
AJ Kenny | March 29, 2022
Many consumer brands are committed to not testing their products on animals. However, some regulatory authorities still believe the only way to decide if a product could be toxic to the aquatic environment is to test it. Read more.
Patrick Armitage | March 23, 2022
Smarter Sorting Raises $25 Million in Funding. Round Led by G2 Venture Partners.
Read more.
Charlotte Devereaux | March 18, 2022
Do you know the difference between ethylvanillin and vanillin? Both produce the scent we know as vanilla. They both pass the smell test, but what about the claims test? Read more.
Haley Salzwedel | December 17, 2021
While hype and controversy may continue to surround ESG, one thing is certain - companies need to ensure that they are reporting accurate and consistent data to stakeholders. Read more.
Haley Salzwedel | October 18, 2021
The momentum for more organic management legislation continues to grow among U.S. regulators. Retailers across the U.S. need to be ready for new legislation in the states where they operate. Read more.
Haley Salzwedel | October 3, 2021
Making claims is important for the bottom line, but it’s crucial for suppliers to avoid making false or misleading claims about their products. Read more.
Chris Ripley | June 11, 2021
Smarter Sorting recently introduced an industry-first platform for consumer products — and ACE™ is powering it. It provides a single source of regulatory truth for consumer products so they can be handled in the most safe, compliant, and cost-effective way. Read more.
Haley Salzwedel | June 2, 2021
Lithium-ion batteries are notoriously challenging for retailers to handle, especially at the End of Life (EOL). Retailers need to understand how to handle and dispose of products that contain lithium-ion batteries in a safe, compliant, and sustainable way. Read more.
Kevin Liu | December 20, 2020
While sunflowers may provide a viable method of soil remediation in certain scenarios, the root of the issue still remains: e-waste and its toxic heavy metals are still reaching landfills in alarmingly high quantities. Read more.
Evan Peters | December 17, 2020
Using Smarter Sorting’s aquatic toxicity calculations, complicated and burdensome waste regulations can be calculated instantly, accurately, and without harming any fish. Read more.
Blake Weems | December 3, 2020
“Is this wet or dry?” Have no fear! Every product registered in the Smarter Sorting Classification Portal is assigned the correct form. No more confusion, and no more guessing with edge cases. A solid definition is here to stay. Read more.
Evan Peters | October 28, 2020
What happens to toothpaste when it is returned to your store? What is the cost – to your company and the environment – to manage a tube of toothpaste properly? How can one toothpaste be considered “toxic waste” while another nearly identical tube isn’t? Read more.
Scott Mackey | July 23, 2020
While the mission of Smarter Sorting is rooted in improving sustainability outcomes for retail supply chains, our platform is more than just a one-trick pony. Read more.
Evan Peters | July 6, 2020
Is it possible to reproduce lab results using computational toxicology instead of killing fish? And is it possible using only publicly available data? The answer, we think, is “yes”. Read more.
Charlie Vallely | June 16, 2020
Everyone knows the primary responsibility of a retailer is to master state-specific computational toxicology. At Smarter Sorting, we keep things easy and accurate for retailers managing regulated products. Read more.
Charlie Vallely | May 4, 2020
It’s now more important than ever to accurately represent the hazards of a product in a single, informative SDS. Smarter Sorting’s Automated Classification Engine can help manufacturers and importers adjust to this new landscape. Read more.
Scott Mackey | April 7, 2020
For retailers (and suppliers) in search of ways to enable e-commerce, move products more safely, and increase sustainability in decisions related to regulated product management, Smarter Sorting can help. Read more.
Chris Ripley | April 6, 2020
Smarter Sorting hopes that by sharing what we’ve learned about COVID-19 disinfectants that we will help strengthen the supply chains that keep our communities healthy and safe. We’re in this together, so let’s get to work. Read more.
Chris Ripley | March 31, 2020
To promote product transparency, public health, and consumer safety, Smarter Sorting is sharing relevant attributes of its Product Genome data to highlight EPA-approved COVID-19 disinfectant products. Read more.
Chris Ripley | February 20, 2020
Smarter Sorting seeks to map a new “genome” of data: consumer product information. Through aggregating and leveraging chemical data, we have developed a proprietary machine-learning algorithm that can “decode” any chemical product. Read more.
Charlie Vallely | January 21, 2020
If you manufacture, sell, or transport lithium ion batteries, you’ve been thinking a lot about the UN 38.3 testing requirements over the last year. Read more.
Charlie Vallely | November 25, 2019
At large retail facilities, aerosols account for up to 40% of the items managed as hazardous waste. Managing aerosols as universal waste means that many retailers will be able to significantly reduce how much hazardous waste they are generating. Read more.
Scott Mackey | September 20, 2019
Smarter Sorting’s patented platform helps partners cut waste, save money and limit regulatory liability through sustainable management of consumer products. Read more.
Charlie Vallely | August 27, 2019
Reducing generator status means saving money and reducing compliance headaches. Evolving regulations, gaps in data and reporting, and misclassified products makes accurately tracking generator status in real-time a challenge. Read more.
Scott Mackey | August 12, 2019
Ineffective management of toxic materials may be costing your retail organization big bucks—and fixing the issue requires expertise your organization probably doesn’t possess. We have the solution for your hazardous waste challenges. Read more.
Dan McGowan | August 1, 2019
Yes, handwriting is not the central problem to solve. However, as an often overlooked piece of the compliance puzzle, using a digital system can ease employees workload and increase efficiency—all while improving compliance outcomes. Read more.
Scott Mackey | July 1, 2019
Smarter Sorting is tackling this fundamental circularity concept in a very tangible way when it helps retailers track and divert items—previously considered “waste”—into pathways of reuse and recycling. Read more.
Scott Mackey | June 24, 2019
Retailers often go it alone when it comes to retail waste management. Not unexpectedly, those that do realize results comparable to the lonely Lyft rider: higher expenses. Read more.
Scott Mackey | June 21, 2019
Smarter Sorting is here to help create a tomorrow that doesn’t have to be scary for retailers or waste haulers. Let’s examine what this waste-minimizing future would look like in more detail. Read more.
Scott Mackey | June 20, 2019
A single-serving approach to waste management is both expensive and inefficient for retailers and waste haulers. And currently, it’s all too common. Read more.
Charlie Vallely | June 12, 2019
It’s time to put on your big data hats and get to work. Remember: making small changes upfront can lead to bigger bottom lines later. Read more.
Josh Groves | May 22, 2019
Smarter Sorting optimizes processes so retail employees don’t have to. No more wrong turns or dead ends. Just clear, time-saving direction and streamlined operations that create cost savings, maximize tax benefits and minimize waste. Read more.