Organic growing media and potting soils (DE-UZ 234)

The new ecolabel may be awarded to organic growing media that stands out due to its complete avoidance of peat. Peat has been used as a raw material in this sector for decades because it has very good characteristics for the production of growing media suitable for the cultivation of plants. However, the use of peat can have negative effects on the environment. As it takes a very long time for peatlands to form on moors, peat is considered a non-renewable raw material and the carbon stored in the peat is emitted as CO2 when it is used. In order to protect the climate, it is necessary to retain the carbon stored in the peat. The conservation or renaturation of moors also makes an important contribution to promoting biodiversity. Therefore, it is necessary for the peat in the growing media to be replaced by renewable raw materials, also called “peat substitutes”.

Peat-free growing media are usually a mix of several different peat substitutes because the desired quality parameters can only be achieved by developing a suitable combination of different raw materials. Green material compost, wood fibres, bark humus and horticultural coconut products are currently the main materials used in these products. The Blue Angel places requirements on the responsible sourcing of these peat substitutes in accordance with sustainability criteria. If wood fibres are used in the products, the ecolabel requires the use of residual substances to avoid competition with any long-term uses for the wood fibres in e.g. the construction sector. The criteria also state that the wood fibres must be sourced from sustainable forestry. In addition, the criteria focus on social aspects and wastewater disposal when using horticultural coconut products.

Strict pollutant criteria are also placed, for example, on the presence of heavy metals and organic pollutants. Certified growing media must also verify that they have a good fitness for use. This includes having a high plant tolerance, a stable nitrogen content and limits on any impurities in the form of plastic or weed seeds.

This ecolabel may be used to certify organic growing substances that

• completely avoid the use of peat,
• use organic raw materials to promote a circular economy,
• aspire to use raw materials in a sustainable and transparent way,
• and can verify their fitness for use and their compliance with strict pollutant limits.