peat
The White Paper Harper refers to had a profound effect, resulting in the setup of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme for Growing Media. This scheme enables Defra, NGOs’ retailers, growers and manufacturers to make the best-informed decisions about different constituent formulations, maximising the environmental and social benefits, as well as considering cost.
This is something Harper is proud to be leading: “I am personally delighted to be leading this at Bord Na Móna as we strive to ensure growing media is made from materials that are sourced and manufactured in a way that is both socially and environmentally responsible; supporting the government is of great importance to us.” The manufacturers are typically members of
the Growing Media Association (GMA) which is concerned with the development, production, marketing and sale of growing media and soil improvers in the UK and Ireland and the ingredients used to manufacture these products. Progress has been achieved across the sector
since its inception in order to support the UK government’s targets. Members of the GMA cover the whole spectrum of growing media suppliers, from businesses that started out as peat producers to those that run entirely peat- free operations. Harper feels confident that all members that began life as peat producers have worked hard to reduce the peat content in their products and develop alternatives.
Product offerings So what does Bord Na Móna now offer in order to help the UK government reach zero carbon emissions by 2050? Peat has always been the cheapest raw material available on the market, with all other diluents between two to six times more expensive. Peat has therefore been the go-to product on offer, especially for many who are price conscious. This is one of the reasons why Bord Na Móna has now launched a new peat-free brand in Happy Compost. Happy Compost uses a wide range of ingredients to reduce peat, for example coir, green compost, composted bark fines and a recycled wood fibre that works as well as the peat-based products it is replacing. The product has so far been well received, with Happy Compost receiving a ‘best in test’
GCU January/February 2020
www.gardencentreupdate.com | 9
performance against all major competitors in trials conducted at University College of Dublin. In 2019 the company also added three new Which? ‘best buys’ in the latest compost trials which rigorously test and review over 25 products with each formulation assessed based on its quality and assurance.
“We are very excited about the initial success of Happy Compost and to show off a product that we have been working so hard on for the past three years,” adds Harper. “As peat-free is
the way we are going as a country and is the right thing to do, we wanted to create a brand that made it simple for environmentally conscious shoppers to pick out a brand that is clearly peat-free.
“This clearly resonated with buyers at Glee, which resulted in a great launch for us and we can’t wait to see Happy Compost hit the shelves at local garden centres.”
uwww.thegreenergardener.com
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