Seeking a sustainable alternative to peat
The government has announced that 2024 will see a ban on the sale of peat to amateur gardeners in England. Whether this becomes reality depends on finding space in the legislative timetable, but it should focus minds on hastening attempts to find a high-quality sustainable peat alternative at the required scale and cost.
It is estimated that 1.7 million cubic metres of material is required annually to replace peat. Finding something that has the stability, consistency and growing qualities of peat is complex but possible.
The growing industry has systems based on the consistent characteristics that peat offers so any transition will require significant systemic change. Further complexity is added by the global nature of the sector including sourcing materials from countries in which the phasing out peat in not high on the agenda. How then can the sector navigate these complexities to a more sustainable alternative?
An increasing number of options are in development
There are increasing efforts by organisations such as the RHS and commercial operators to find a truly sustainable peat alternative. There is no ‘silver bullet,’ so a range of ingredients and process will be required which will add expense and complexity during a transition period. To ease the burden of change there will need to be a willingness to focus on science-based solutions, to be open about findings and to engage with a wider range of stakeholders including NGOs and legislators.
Whilst these new approaches are being developed there are steps that the sector can take to support the shift required.
Better Customer Communications
Peat is a fantastic growing medium, but customer surveys suggest that many gardeners are using it as a soil enhancer or mulch for which more sustainable alternatives exist. A co-ordinated and compelling communications campaign across the sector highlighting the environmental importance of peat and how it should best be used could significantly cut demand.
The industry needs to consider how a changing climate which is creating more extreme weather events will alter the way that they engage with customers. In future messaging will need to focus more on resilient plant care, better soil management and acceptance of less than perfect plants. This should aim to create more sustainable gardening practices including the phasing out of peat.
Garden centres could lead by example, demonstrating to customers how they are using food waste from their catering plus garden waste to cut the amount of material they are throwing away and illustrating how the compost created can be used to enhance soil quality.
Can more be done with food and garden waste?
Government is planning to ensure local authorities offer all households food waste collections from 2025. This will further increase the supply of this material alongside the garden waste already collected. To-date most of this waste is sent as a low value material to agriculture. Is there a way for it to be made available as part of the peat replacement programme? For this to be a possibility three things need to happen:
- The amount of contamination in food waste, particularly plastics, needs to be cut requiring a concerted education programme to households. There needs to be on-going conversations with the Environment Agency to ensure that future legislative changes do not inadvertently close off options to use this an alternative material.
- The economics needs to shift to provide waste contractors with the incentive required to enable them to better process the materials they collect.
- Greater collaboration is required between local authorities, waste contractors and the horticultural sector to create an operational system which maximises the use of this resource.
Can more be done with anaerobic digesters?
With soaring energy prices and increased waste disposal costs. There is a possibility that a growing number of farmers and commercial organisations will turn to anaerobic digesters to provide them with an alternative source of energy. Forthcoming changes of legislation could make it easier for the digestate from this source to be added into the peat replacement mix.
Collaboration is required to find a truly sustainable alternative
A ban on commercial peat sales must be the ultimate ambition, but it is essential that it does not have unexpected negative impacts. Any transition needs to consider ensuring plant stock is diverse and resilient to disease, that replacement materials are safe, and that adequate provision is made to ensure that peat bogs are maintained once commercial production ends. Greater collaboration is required between all sectors – including legislators – to ensure a truly sustainable transition is achieved which is likely to include some exemptions whilst appropriate solutions are found for challenging areas.
The ban announced by the government will focus minds on finding peat alternatives. One outcome being considered is to develop a concerted trial in a locality to test a range of options. If you would be interested in learning more about this potential activity, please contact trewin@sizzle.org.uk.
About Trewin Restorick
Trewin Restorick was the Founder and CEO of Hubbub UK. Over 8 years, Trewin took the charity from concept through to a multi award-winning organisation. He stood down from being the CEO in May 2022 to establish a new organisation called Sizzle. He will continue to support Hubbub as an Ambassador.
Trewin was recognised in 2020 with a Global Leader of the Year award. In 2021 he won the Business Green ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ and in 2022 voted by peers as the most influential person in the UK’s recycling and resource sector.