RBG Kew Retail to become peat-free by the end of 2025

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is pleased to announce a crucial step in its sustainability journey and commitment to become climate positive by 2030: by the end of 2025, all plants sold across RBG Kew’s retail outlets will be potted and sold in peat-free compost[1]. This transition places Kew at the forefront of change, alongside organisations such as the Royal Horticultural Society in driving the nationwide shift away from a reliance on peat.

The horticultural sector is undergoing a significant transformation as momentum to stop peat use, once considered an indispensable growing medium, has grown. Peatlands are among the world’s most valuable ecosystems: they provide an important habitat for wildlife, regulate water flows and act as important carbon sinks (). Despite this, the UK’s peatlands are critically degraded. Although there are almost five million acres of peatland across the country, only around 6,000 hectares remain in pristine or near-natural condition, placing them among the UK’s most threatened habitats. The process of peat extraction for commercial use also releases vast quantities of stored carbon into the atmosphere, further contributing to the tandem climate and biodiversity crises.

Rachel Purdon, Head of Sustainability at RBG Kew, says: “Using peat-free growing material across our retail range is a powerful demonstration of Kew’s broader sustainability ambitions, and a demonstration of evidence-based, science-led decisions driving change. By removing peat from retail items, we’re putting sustainability at the heart of everything we do and helping to support a horticultural sector that safeguards ecosystems, supports biodiversity and contributes to a more sustainable future.” 

Underpinned by world-leading scientific research 

Kew’s commitment for its retail operations to only sell plants frown in peat-free material by the end of 2025 is driven not only by its mission to help create a thriving planet for all powered by plants and fungi, but also by its role as a global leader in horticulture and plant science. Current research by Kew Scientists reinforces the urgency of protecting peatlands. For example, evidence from Nature Returns, a multi-year programme run in partnership with Natural England assessing how UK habitats store carbon and support biodiversity, reinforce the understanding that natural peatlands store more carbon than many other habitat types[2].

Peat-free horticulture

Kew Gardens and Wakehurst have used peat-free growing media for over 25 years, with only minimal peat kept for rare species that cannot yet grow in alternatives. Work is ongoing to trial peat-free options for these species. 

Since 2021, RBG Kew has worked closely with retail suppliers and growers in the transition to peat-free production, trialling innovative materials, adapting production practices and helping expand market confidence in high-quality peat-free plants. Peat-free materials now used in Kew’s retail ranges include:

• coir
• composted bark
• wood fibre
• sterilised soil
• grit and sand
• composted green waste

“We’re proud to be setting the pace in the retail sector by committing to the sale of plants grown in peat-free material by the end of 2025” says Hannah Oxley, Head of Retail and Ecommerce at RBG Kew. “Our customers expect Kew to set high standards, and this milestone shows what’s possible when retailers work closely with growers to innovate, adapt and champion more sustainable choices. By offering high-quality plants grown in alternative materials, we hope to give gardeners confidence in the alternatives, and prove that retail can play a central role in supporting sustainable horticulture.”

A leader in sustainability

Kew’s peat-free commitment is illustrative of the ambitions set out within its Sustainability Strategy. These include using Kew’s world-leading expertise and respected voice to evidence sustainable practices and advocate for sustainable action. The peat-free milestone follows a series of sustainability successes across the organisation and aligns with its long-term strategy to embed environmental responsibility into every aspect of its operations. Recent achievements include:

• More than 500% increase in renewable electricity generated from solar panels on our two sites – Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
• We have introduced a returnable coffee-cup scheme at Kew Gardens which has avoided the need for over 300,000 single use drinks cups so far
• Significant decarbonisation projects replacing gas and oil boilers for several buildings at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst, including the Grade I Listed Elizabethan Mansion at Wakehurst - a project that is expected to halve Wakehurst’s direct carbon emissions from heating

RBG Kew’s move for retail to be fully peat-free by 2025 demonstrates our commitment to leading positive change in horticulture, conservation and climate action. As the UK Government prepares to phase out the sale of peat products, organisations that opt to act early are helping to demonstrate the commercial viability of alternatives and empower customers to make choices that support climate-positive horticulture. 

By choosing peat-free products, visitors and gardeners play a direct role in protecting the UK’s most vulnerable habitats and send a clear signal to the sector that change is not only possible but urgently needed. 

Press images are available here:   https://we.tl/t-cF98GERVrS 

For more information or images, please contact the Press Office at pr@kew.org / 0208 332 5607

[1] All plants sold at Kew Gardens or Wakehurst will be grown in peat-free material. Some plants may have begun life in a plug containing peat. We are working with suppliers to be able to transition to 100% peat-free as soon as possible

[2] https://www.kew.org/science/nature-returns/carbon-and-biodiversity