Archived press release

Gardening industry told: stop peat deception

30 April 2001

Today, at the start of “International Compost Awareness Week”, Friends of the Earth slammed the gardening industry for 'tricking' customers into unwittingly buying peat, by referring to it as “multipurpose compost”. The group accused the industry of dealing a“triple-blow” to the environment, because the continued use of peat is damaging wildlife sites, stifling the growth of local composting schemes, and leading to more waste being incinerated.

International Composting Awareness Week (29th April-5th May) is being run simultaneously in the UK, US and Canada to promote the composting of household waste, rather than landfill or incineration. In a statement supporting the initiative, Environment Minister Michael Meacher called landfill and incineration “a missed opportunity” and said there was a need to “raise awareness of the value of compost as a soil improver and growing medium”. The Government have set a target to recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste by 2005, but this will need to be supported by a massive increase in compost sales.

Sarah Oppenheimer, Waste Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“Our topsoil is losing it's fertility at an alarming rate, but instead of returning organic matter in the waste stream, we pour on chemicals and tear up wildlife rich peatlands.Composting of organic waste helps restore our soil, reduces the need for polluting waste management processes like landfill and incineration, and removes the need to destroy our peatlands. .”

According to latest edition of BBC Gardeners World magazine, a 74% of gardeners would now support a peat ban because the product comes from the UK's very best wildlife habitats. But, peat sales still dominate around three-quarters of the soil conditioner and growing media market.

Friends of the Earth is convinced that the anomaly between these statistics is caused by the mislabeling of most peat based products as “multipurpose compost”, implying that they have been made from recycled organic waste. The environment group has singled out one product in particular (Miracle-Gro compost) because its peat content is not declared anywhere on the packaging. In the US, where the peat issue is not yet so controversial, the makers of Miracle-Gro boast on the packaging about the peat content. FOE have set up a spoof website to poke fun at the product, but also to supply information on its environmental impact (see: www.miracle-gone.co.uk)

But campaigners have taken heart from the recent publication of B&Q's plans to go completely peat-free over the next 10 years, reaching 85% peat free by 2006. B&Q's new peat policy also commits suppliers to clear, honest labelling citing peat content, and to a preference for using recycled materials when making peat alternatives.

Craig Bennett, Campaigner for Friends of the Earth said:
“If the peat companies are so certain that people want to buy peat, why do they o often hide the fact that their products contain it? The answer is clear: they want to deceive customers into buying their products by pretending they are made from recycled compost. Not content with digging up our best wildlife sites,the peat industry is also striking a blow at community recycling schemes up and down the country.

It's high time the DIY retailers garden centres sorted this out by following B&Q's lead and also publishing clear timetables for going peat-free and replacing peat products with compost that is actually compost.”

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust