Is it possible to have 'sustainable' peat?

Peat replacement has dominated research in growing media science over the past decades, driven by peatland protection policies and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, global demand for growing media is projected to increase substantially, reflecting the expansion of horticultural and ornamental plant production worldwide. Achieving net-zero emission targets while maintaining a resilient horticulture sector therefore requires re-examining existing assumptions and broadening the scope of current research strategies.

While most scientific and regulatory efforts focus on substituting peat with alternative materials, comparatively little attention has been paid to reducing the environmental impact of peat extraction itself or to exploring whether pathways exist to make peat use more sustainable. Horticultural peat is generally considered unsustainable because peat mineralisation rates exceed natural peat accumulation, leading to the release of long-stored, non-biogenic carbon. Nevertheless, peat has  also been described as a slowly renewable resource, a claim that remains insufficiently examined in practical or quantitative terms.

We explore conceptual models in which peat extraction could be matched by equal or higher rates of peat accumulation across larger, managed landscapes. Such approaches would rely on long-term peatland management, compensatory restoration of degraded peatlands, or integrated landscape-scale strategies. The feasibility of these models is assessed in terms of biophysical constraints, economic costs, and competition with alternative land-use options, including carbon credit schemes, biodiversity restoration initiatives, and commercially available peat substitutes.

In addition, we discuss related approaches, including sphagnum moss cultivation in paludicultural systems, acrotelm harvesting, and the utilisation of residual peat from construction, mining/quarrying, or restoration projects. By comparing current peat extraction with potential future pathways, we aim to stimulate a broader discussion on whether or not peat use can be re-framed within sustainability goals, rather than being considered solely as a material to be phased out.