Get Peat Out of Our Homes
We’re calling for peat to be removed from our plates by asking supermarkets what they’re doing to help us get peat out of our homes, as part of the Peat-free Partnership
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We are proud to host the Peat-free Partnership – bringing together environmental charities and horticultural organisations to work together for the goal of ending peat sales.
Right now, our precious peatlands – which are home to some of the UK’s most distinctive plant communities – are being destroyed.
A huge amount of peat is being dug up and sold commercially to help grow plants and many of the vegetables that end up in your supermarket trolley. [1]
From mushrooms, celery, lettuce and blueberries – if you buy fruit and veg every week, it’s very hard to have a peat-free home.
And the use of peat for food production and gardening has drastic knock-on effects for the species that call peatlands home as well as carbon stores, flood risks and water quality.
It’s never been more vital to protect our peatlands – here’s how you can help.
What’s the Problem?
Did you know that 760,000m3 of peat is used every year to grow plants and food? [2]
Many of the everyday vegetables you get from the supermarket, from potatoes to salad leaves and mushrooms, have used peat in the growing process.
Peat forms at just 1mm a year which means it takes 1,000 years to grow just 1m of peat. [3]
As well as being home to some of our most amazing plants, peatlands can help reduce flood risks, help wildlife deal with droughts and lock up 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon in the UK alone. [4]
Back in 2022, the government promised to ban peat sales in horticulture, but 4 years later there’s still no legislation in place. [5]
With no laws to prevent the sale of peat, growers are continuing to use it (though many have already made steps to reduce or completely stop their peat use). This makes it harder for supermarkets to transition away from peat-grown vegetables. And in turn, this means your plates are packed with peat.
What Can You do?
We need everyone to help in the fight to put an end to peat sales!
- Reach out to your local supermarkets to tell them that you want to keep peat off your plate and in the peatlands
- Help us spread the word and share with your friends
What’s The Solution?
We need supermarkets to play their part in saving peatlands for people and the planet.
Retailers can get peat out of our homes by:
- Clearly labelling products which are grown using peat extracted from peatlands, so customers can shop with confidence
- Reducing and removing peat from their supply chains
- Asking the UK Government to set legislation to end peat sales, and support the transition to peat-free for growers
What is The Peat-free Partnership?
The Peat-free Partnership is a coalition of horticultural businesses and eNGOs calling for commercial peat trade across the UK.
The Peat-free Partnership is funded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and hosted by the wild plant conservation charity Plantlife.
