Compost: Peat

(asked on 27th October 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to ban the sale of peat based compost in the horticulture sector; and if so, when.


This question was answered on 17th November 2021

In the England Peat Action Plan, we have committed to undertake a full consultation in 2021 on banning the sale of peat and peat-containing products in the amateur sector by the end of this Parliament, and on an ambitious date for the professional sector.

All Government departments and their related organisations must make sure that they meet the minimum mandatory Government Buying Standards when buying goods and services. We also encourage the wider public sector to specify the minimum mandatory standards in tenders.

The relevant buying standards for horticultural products can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainable-procurement-the-gbs-for-horticulture-and-park-services and include a mandatory requirement not to purchase growing media containing peat.

Forestry England currently uses peat-based growing media only in strictly limited circumstances where there is no current alternative product and where it is necessary to continue production of some of our most vulnerable trees, including several native broadleaf species. For example, alder and birch have, historically, not grown well in peat-free media; trials are planned to understand the reasons and identify the best alternative growing medium for these species.

However, Forestry England has committed to end the purchase of peat-based growing media by the end of this Parliament, well in advance of the rest of the professional sector. In order to achieve this ambitious commitment, Forestry England is continuing to lead the way, actively testing and trialling the use of non-peat growing media alternatives and aiming to provide the wider sector with confidence in these alternatives. This is crucial to supporting these emerging products and supporting the phase out of peat from the wider industry as a whole.

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