B&Q To Be 100% Peat-Free Across Bagged Growing Media In 2023

• B&Q makes commitment to be peat-free across bagged growing media range in 2023

• The business will continue to increase peat-free product innovations across its supply chain until it reaches 100%

• This year, 70% of B&Q’s growing media range is peat-free

B&Q, the UK’s leading home improvement retailer, today [15th June] makes a commitment to be 100% peat-free across its bagged growing media range in 2023.

As B&Q works towards this date, it will continue to make developments through peat-free product innovations and changes in its supply chain.

Today’s announcement from B&Q follows years of peat-free innovation since 1991, when B&Q first introduced peat-free compost. B&Q stopped selling 100% peat in 2008 and introduced a range of peat-free bedding plants in 2014. Throughout, B&Q has been working with suppliers to improve the quality of peat-free composts and to secure sufficient volumes to achieve its peat-free commitment, whilst fulfilling its customers’ needs to enjoy their gardens.

Over the last three years, B&Q has partnered with suppliers to develop a high quality 100% peat-free formulation under the GoodHome brand. This new high-quality 100% peat-free compost, launched in 2020, is formulated using coir and other ingredients to replace peat. The compost is competitively priced so that cost is not a barrier to customers in their purchase decision.

Steve Guy, Market Director Outdoor, B&Q, said: “At B&Q we have a history of positive development of our outdoor range to help our customers have greener, healthier gardens. We were the first retailer to remove neonicotinoids from our supply chain and in 2019 we removed metaldehydes and 2020 saw the removal of glyphosates from our range. Now we are announcing another significant milestone for greener gardens as we make public our commitment to become peat-free in our bagged growing media range in 2023.     

“Between now and then, we will continue developing alternatives for peat growing media, working closely with our suppliers and the wider industry to make this transition, as well as helping our customers understand the benefits of peat-free alternatives. While we know that there are volume challenges in the peat-free supply chain, we are determined to bring quality alternative growing media to the market at scale, whilst being affordable for our customers.”

Today’s announcement coincides with the launch of B&Q’s parent company Kingfisher’s 2020/21 Responsible Business Report. This highlights that across 2020/21, 55% of B&Q sales have come from sustainable home products that help customers have greener, healthier homes and gardens.

Source : B&Q

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