Peat use continues to fall

New data show that the use of peat in both the amateur and professional settings continues to fall, while the uncertainty around regulatory action to ban it persists.

The most recent five years’ worth of data points to a consistent year-on-year decline in amateur peat use from 1,406,571m3 in 2018 to 388969m3 in 2023 – a fall of 72%.

And professional use has declined by 47% over the same period, falling from 703,930m3 in 2018 to 372,510m3 in 2023.

The use of alternative products, such as composted green waste, bark, and coir, was higher in 2023 than in 2018 but it has also declined year-on-year since 2020.

Overall, the data seem to suggest that peat use is in marked decline but this is – at least, recently – resulting in less use of growing media generally rather than greater use of alternatives.

Regulatory action?

Various governments have committed to reducing peat use over the last fifteen years but the current Labour administration has yet to share its policy.

In 2011, the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government published the Natural Environment White Paper, where it set out an ambition to reduce peat use to zero through voluntary means by 2030.

More recently, in 2022, the Conservative government said all sales of peat to amateur gardeners in England would be banned by 2024, with professional uses phased out from 2026 and completely banned from 2030.

Clearly, these dates have either passed with no action taken or look extremely challenging, so BALI is seeking clarity on the current government’s plan with the aim of helping members plan for the future.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat, Sarah Dyke, introduced a Private Members’ Bill in late 2024 in an attempt to force through a ban but struggled to gain traction in Parliament and the Bill is currently scheduled to return for Second Reading in September 2025.