The latest Growing Media Monitor report highlights the horticulture industry’s dedication to becoming peat-free. Based on 2022 data, the report, which is developed annually by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and its specialist group, the Growing Media Association (GMA), the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), and the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), demonstrates a hugely positive shift towards more sustainable practices within the sector.
Key findings of the report reveal a significant decline in the proportion of peat used in environmental horticulture. In 2022, peat accounted for only 24% of the total volume of growing media, compared to 36% in 2021. The retail industry has shown remarkable voluntary progress in using less than half the volume of peat compared to the previous year. The percentage now stands at just 16.8% and is rapidly declining. This decrease is attributed to the collaborative efforts of UK suppliers, growers, and retailers in adopting peat-free practices.
Retailers have been increasingly specifying peat-free products, while manufacturers have improved their proficiency in producing viable alternatives. For the first time, the proportion of peat used in professional growing media fell below 50% in 2022, reaching 43.3%. Additionally, growing media used to produce nursery stock, pot or bedding plants suggests that roughly 16% of the professional commercial-scale production of trees and plants took place in peat-free products in 2022. The equivalent figure in 2021 was 8%, meaning peat-free production has doubled in the last year. This downward trend in peat usage reflects the industry’s commitment to successfully transitioning to a peat-free future by the end of the decade. However, the report also highlights the complexity and difficulty of reducing the remaining 43% in professional use.
Wood-based materials, such as wood fibres derived from wood chips, have become the most voluminous ingredient in growing media, accounting for 35.5% of the volume of products supplied to the retail sector. Other alternatives, including bark, coir, and organic materials, have also increased, replacing the peat in the supply chain. However, the figures also indicate some challenges around consistency and vulnerabilities in the supply chain of peat alternatives for UK growing media. The report reflects some of the technical challenges manufacturers face in developing reliably performing mixes for specific types of plants and gardening purposes, such as specialist products for ericaceous plants. Importantly, 85% of finished ornamentals rely on peat to some extent.
The report underlines the importance of further research and development into peat-free and reduced-peat mixes to ensure a sustainable transition. The horticulture and landscaping industry plays a vital role in the UK economy, and access to high-quality growing media is essential for its success. Achieving a peat-free future is within our grasp, provided the right support is in place.