The transition to peat-free horticulture in Scotland​ 

Scotland’s peatlands store large quantities of carbon and play a critical role in climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. However, extracting peat for horticultural growing media damages these ecosystems and releases greenhouse gas emissions. The Scottish Government has committed to ending the use of peat in horticulture while recognising the economic importance of the sector. 

This report assesses the feasibility of transitioning to peat-free growing media in Scottish horticulture. It draws on published studies, industry reports and extensive engagement with the sector, including workshops and interviews with growers, growing media manufacturers, retailers and researchers. Stakeholders provided practical insight into how peat-free systems are working in practice, the challenges businesses face, and the solutions currently being trialled across the industry. 

Key findings 

• Peat-free horticulture in Scotland is achievable. A range of alternative growing media are already supporting commercial production across several horticultural systems. 
• The main challenge is coordinating the transition to align infrastructure, standards, supply chains and technical practice.  
• Progress has already been made in several parts of the sector. Retail growing media are now largely peat-free, and many ornamental and forestry producers have significantly reduced peat use.  
• Some production systems face greater technical constraints. Crops that favour acidic soil, potato mini-tuber production and propagation systems require to assess the viability of alternatives.  
• Cost, supply chain capacity and consistency of materials remain key barriers.  
• With coordinated implementation and realistic timelines, Scotland has the resources and industry capability needed to support a peat-free transition. 

This research indicates that the principal challenge for Scotland’s peat-free transition is not the absence of viable alternatives or willingness within the sector, but the coordination of infrastructure, standards, supply chains and technical practice.  

With coordinated implementation, investment in processing infrastructure and continued collaboration across the horticulture sector, Scotland can phase out horticultural peat while maintaining productive and resilient growing systems.  

The pace of change will depend on a combination of clear policy direction, realistic transition timelines and continued support for infrastructure, standards development and collaborative trials. 

For further information, please read the report.  

The main report is available as PDF and in HTML. The appendices are available as a separate PDF. If you require the report or appendices in an alternative format, such as a Word document, please contact info@climatexchange.org.uk or 0131 651 4783.