Tesco is aiming to become the first major UK supermarket to go peat - free on its British - grow bedding plants , for significantly let down their carbon footprint . From Monday 4 April , Tesco will take the lead in supermarket retail by reducing peat by 95 per cent across its UK bedding plant mountain range – with plans to go completely peat - devoid in its British bedding works in 2023 .
The small amount of residual peat in this twelvemonth ’s range was used by the retailer ’s seedling suppliers when germinate the plants . Tesco will bring with these suppliers over the coming month , with the finish of eliminating any last traces of peat and becoming 100 per cent peat - free .
Peat is still the most pop aid used by the horticulture industry to arise potting plant but , when harvest , vast quantities of carbon are released into the standard atmosphere , accelerating mood change .
The stone’s throw is being made in partnership with one of the UK ’s decorative plant provider , Bridge Farm Group , based in Spalding , Lincolnshire . And it will also assist preserve the UK ’s peatlands , which supply a wealth of environmental benefit as well as being home to many rare plants , dirt ball and bird .
The move is significant as Tesco is one of the UK ’s largest sellers of bedding plants , with about 40 million plant sold each year . Through this alteration , Tesco aims to decoct its peat utilisation by nearly 9,000 three-dimensional metes a twelvemonth . This would foreshorten the carbon footprint of these intersection by more than 1,200 tons of CO2e ( carbon dioxide tantamount emissions ) a year – a reduction of 75 per cent * .
Tesco Horticulture Category Buying Manager , Alex Edwards said : “ This move is a major step forward in deliver a more sustainable plant range to gain the planet . In collaboration with our provider , the Bridge Farm Group , we have taken the decision to reduce peat at the early chance , as part of a wider sustainability computer program to thin out our carbon footprint .
“ We go for to see a positive reply from customers – many of whom talk to us about their spring up concerns surrounding the sustainability of our satellite . In taking the first step , we hope others in the horticulture market will follow , help us feel solutions for the plant and shrubs where we do n’t yet have a practicable alternative for peat . ”
Instead of peat , all Tesco ’s British bedding plants , which are develop by the Bridge Farm Group , will utilize alternative such as wood character and constitutional by - products to deliver the timber await .
Tesco ’s compass of products furnish by the Bridge Farm Group have all been successfully trialed in peat - free compost , with no impact on quality or product lifetime .
Bridge Farm Group Managing Director Louise Motala said : “ Peat take thousand of years to form , therefore using alternative materials that are much quicker to regenerate is a precedency for horticulture . We ’re entranced to be working with Tesco to deliver a more sustainable solution and we hope this is the start of meaningful change for the sector . ”
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