The horticultural industry warns of plant shortages for UK gardeners by 2027 if a ban on peat is brought forward

• Defra date shift on peat ban risks devastating impacts on the horticultural industry and the Government’s 25-year Environment Plan, new HTA survey shows
• Commercial growers project a shortage of 100 million plants and trees in the year immediately following the ban
• Professional peat use is already below 50% of previous levels and on track for the original 2030 deadline
• Sector reiterates calls to support a sustainable transition from peat use not to undermine the UK horticulture and garden industry.

 

New data from the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) shows there is likely to be a severe impact on plant availability after recent government indications that a ban on professional peat use in the horticultural industry will be brought forward by four growing seasons. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has stated its intention to ban peat in commercial plant, tree, fruit, and vegetable production by the end of 2026 rather than 2030, as previously indicated. This would more than halve the number of growing seasons commercial growers have to complete extensive trialling to changes in their crop production techniques, raising serious concerns about potential environmental and economic impacts.

 

In a survey of its members[i], commercial growers projected a shortage of 100 million plants and trees for sale in the UK in the year immediately following the ban. This shortage could result in a significant loss of greenery and biodiversity in gardens, parks, and streets, depriving the UK of its vibrant natural landscapes.

 

James Barnes, Chairman of the HTA, said,

“We urge the government to reconsider the timeline and ensure a manageable transition away from peat use, allowing adequate time for growers to successfully and sustainably trial and adapt their methods and materials. By doing so, we can protect jobs, preserve biodiversity, and continue to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that arise from our connection with nature.

 

“The long-term impacts on Britain’s horticultural industry and the environmental benefits it delivers will be seismic and out of all proportion with the environmental gains of bringing in a peat ban a few years early – at a time when the industry is already demonstrating year on year reduction in its use.

 

“Defra's recent announcement without proper consultation or impact assessment has raised concern across horticulture – from retailers to growers. The industry shares the ambition to deliver a sustainable transition from peat use, with the same environmental outcomes as Defra, but requires the government to find a way forward that aligns environmental ambitions with the economic viability of the environmental horticultural sector. The HTA has long championed sustainable practices and supports the industry's transition from peat use, and much work has been happening to reduce it. UK commercial plant growers are well on their way to voluntarily removing peat by 2030, as encouraged by the government over the past decade. The use of peat in bagged compost is at a record low on a sharp trajectory towards zero, and professional use is already below 50% volume of previous levels. This puts the UK ahead of the rest of Europe on the peat-free journey.

 

“The HTA's survey findings depict a grim outlook for the horticultural industry and the millions of gardeners who rely on it. Some plants are problematic to grow in peat free compost, and further trials are needed. One in three suppliers to parks and public green spaces fear they will be unable to fulfil their obligations, potentially leading to defaults or contract withdrawals. Garden centres, a vital source of plants and trees for consumers, predict they will have gaps and reduced product lines by 2027.

 

“The HTA survey also reveals that two-thirds of the UK's commercial growers anticipate increased water and nutrient usage as they are forced to use peat-free alternatives without testing the best ways of using water and nutrients in a new growing medium. These new irrigation regimes will put pressure on efforts to increase water resilience and reduce use, a priority for the UK with increased extended drought periods, such as seen in 2022.

 

“Furthermore, the HTA warns of severe economic repercussions, with an estimated 68% of garden centres expecting to reduce staff due to decreased plant and tree sales and all the associated products that relate to container gardening in particular. These consequences ripple throughout the supply chain, impacting jobs in garden retailers, nurseries, and landscape maintenance services. Many of these businesses are small, family-run establishments that have been passed down through generations and employ members of the local community.

 

“Given these statistics and the impending threat of a shortage of plants and trees, it is crucial to reassess the accelerated peat ban. The HTA calls for collaborative and responsive engagement with Defra to gain clarity on the policy shift and seek alternative solutions that strike a balance between environmental goals and the wellbeing of the horticultural industry, as well as the wellbeing of the nation.”

 

ENDS

 

Key facts and statistics from the HTA survey data

• UK commercial plant and tree growers are likely to be able to produce around 100 million fewer plants and trees for the 2027 season than at present if the ban on peat use in commercial plant and tree production is brought forward from 2030 to 2026.
• 278k tonnes of CO2e would be saved by bringing the ban on peat use forward to 2026 from 2030, roughly equivalent to the carbon dioxide absorbed by half a million trees or 11. million small shrubs over their lifetimes. But bringing the ban forward to 2026 will likely result in 100 million fewer plants and trees per year being supplied from 2027, resulting in the loss of all of the environmental and health benefits these plants and trees bring.
• 77% of garden centres report they are likely to offer a much narrower range of plants if a ban on peat use in plant production takes effect from the end of 2026, affecting urban biodiversity and wildlife.
• 66% of commercial growers say they will likely need more water to produce the same volume of plants and trees due to moving away from peat in 2026 before production techniques are fully tested.
• 33% of commercial growers supplying plants or trees to amenities such as parks, forests and public green spaces say they will likely have to withdraw from or default on contracts/obligations to supply plants and trees due to the peat removal deadline being brought forward.
• 9% of commercial growers say they will likely have to close their business as the costs and risks of changing to peat free in 2026 will be commercially unviable.
• 68% of garden centres expect to cut staff in 2027 should a 2026 ban come in due to lost sales of plants and trees and items that depend on plant sales, such as plant pots, fertilisers, canes, and trellises.
• 53% of garden centres report that they would likely have to cut back on donations of plants to community groups and charities to help ensure they have enough plants to meet customer demand.
• Garden centres anticipate that sales of houseplants will fall by 70%, due mainly to the fact that 87% of the houseplants they sell are imported; overseas growers are far more reliant on peat to grow plants than UK growers.
• Around 23 million people a year buy houseplants.
• The UK’s commercial plant growers produce plants, trees, bulbs, and flowers worth £1.6 billion annually. The businesses that produce these plants and trees employ around 18,000 people.
• HTA estimates that if the output from commercial plant growers fell by 10-15% in 2027, then pro-rata UK growers may see nearly 3,000 job losses, and this doesn’t take into account any jobs lost in garden retailers or parks and landscape maintenance services as a result of there being fewer plants and trees to sell or maintain.
• HTA estimates that between 300 and 400 commercial businesses are growing plants or trees in the UK. Many individual businesses among these growers supply millions of plants or trees in a single year on their own.

 

[i] HTA Member Survey - Full or partial responses from 69 grower businesses with a crop value of £227m were received. Full or partial responses from 122 retailers (mainly garden centres) whose annual turnover is £655m were received. The survey was conducted in April 2023.