With growing concerns over environmental sustainability, the peat industry continues to develop, focusing on responsible peat extraction, restoration, and certification. The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA) has been driving some of these efforts, collaborating with scientists, industry leaders, and government entities for over thirty years to promote best practices.
Charleen McCartney, Communications Coordinator of CSPMA emphasizes the importance of peat as an "enabler" in growing media: "Peat brings out those good qualities in everything else. It helps other materials perform better." It serves as a key ingredient in many growing media due to its exceptional properties, including water retention, nutrient retention, and soil aeration.
Stéphanie Boudreau, CSPMA's Vice President of Science & Research Partnerships, shares that despite the benefits, peat extraction does come with environmental concerns, as does any other ingredient of growing media. Peat extraction has temporary impacts on peatlands, which are important ecosystems for biodiversity and carbon sequestration. The Canadian peat industry, however, works hard to mitigate these impacts through sustainable management practices and innovative restoration techniques.
Restoration and reclamation of peatlands
One of the most significant developments in the Canadian peat industry has been the implementation of the Moss Layer Transfer Technique (MLTT) for peatland restoration. Stéphanie explains, "Independent researchers have shown that this method quickly restores plant biodiversity and vegetation, with carbon sink functions returning within 10 to 15 years."
Charleen adds that peat extraction in Canada represents only 1% of peatland disturbance from human activities, compared to agriculture (63%), mining (18%), hydropower reservoirs (12%), and forestry (3%). The Canadian peat industry has embraced restoration efforts to mitigate these impacts and maintain the health of peatland ecosystems.
These restoration techniques have been adopted globally, and the effectiveness of these methods is evident. Stéphanie highlights the positive results, noting that in just 5 to 19 years after restoration, the ecosystems can show significant recovery, including the return of greenhouse gas sinks and biodiversity.
Government support has played a crucial role in these initiatives, with funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)supporting peatland research and restoration projects. Stéphanie notes, "Canada is investing in these natural-based solutions to restore and protect peatlands as part of broader climate change mitigation efforts."
Restored peatland. (Source: A.S Khan)
Certifications and industry standards
To ensure that peat production follows sustainable practices, CSPMA promotes third-party certification, specifically through the Veriflora® certification program. This certification, though historically known by that name, is now often referred to more generally as "responsibly managed peatland certification", a mark of environmental and social responsibility.
Charleen explains, "This certification touches on every pillar of sustainability – environment, social responsibility, and economics. It looks at factors like fair labour practices, ecosystem management and protection, and how well companies adhere to their sustainability claims." The certification process involves rigorous audits and is a key component of the Canadian peat industry's efforts to maintain transparency and accountability.
The popularity of this certification has grown significantly, with 80% of Canadian peat production now certified. However, Charleen notes that certification requires a level of commitment and resources that may be challenging for smaller companies: "Smaller companies often sell to larger companies, who need certified peat to maintain their own certification."
"Certification helps signify that peat is a responsible choice. CSPMA provides leadership in sustainability and its role as a benchmark for responsible resource management and best practices in the industry," Charleen elaborates.
Veriflora® certification logo
Peat and alternative materials
There has been growing interest in alternatives to peat, such as coconut coir, as the demand for growing media continues to rise. While alternatives can play a role, Charleen cautions that trade-offs are often involved. "When you compare peat to alternatives like coconut coir, peat often comes out on top in lifecycle analyses (LCA), especially when it comes to transportation and water use," she says.
"As demand for coconut coir increases, its production is shifting from a byproduct of the coconut industry into a separate, large-scale industry with its own environmental implications," she adds.
Peat remains a key player in the growing media industry and Stéphanie emphasizes the importance of using peat wisely, alongside other constituents, to optimize performance. "We're not phasing out peat. There are a lot of companies actively working to find the best uses for it in conjunction with other materials," she explains. As growers seek more sustainable solutions, the focus is on blending peat with other media to achieve optimal results, ensuring that peat continues to contribute to food security and sustainable agriculture.
Science and collaboration
CSPMA works closely with academic institutions and researchers to develop and refine best management practices for peatland restoration and responsible peat extraction. Stéphanie highlights the ongoing research efforts, including a new research program and the establishment of a research chair dedicated to studying peatland ecosystems. "These partnerships with scientists are key to shaping our practices and ensuring that we continue to reduce our impact on peatlands," she says.
The restoration techniques developed in Canada, such as the Moss Layer Transfer Technique, are now also being adopted in other industries, including oil and gas, for their own land reclamation projects.
The sustainability of peat globally
While the Canadian peat industry has made significant strides in sustainable practices, Stéphanie points out that the situation in Europe is quite different. In Europe, peatlands have been heavily exploited for centuries, leading to significant degradation. "In Europe, they've used their peatlands for much longer" she explains. "In contrast, Canada has 119 million hectares. The Canadian horticultural peat industry has been active since the 1930s, but in 2023, its total footprint covered just 36,032 hectares—less than 0.03% of Canada's total peatland area."
The vast, relatively intact peatlands of Canada give the country a unique opportunity to implement restoration and conservation practices ensuring the industry is around for generations to come.
Stéphanie and Charleen conclude that the industry's commitment to sustainability is not just about reducing impact: "It's about ensuring that peat continues to play a vital role in feeding the world while respecting the ecosystems that provide it."
For more information:
Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA)
Charleen McCartney, Communications Coordinator
[email protected]
Stéphanie Boudreau, Vice President of Science & Research Partnerships
[email protected]
https://peatmoss.com