Hasty peat ban could lead to “detrimental” outcomes, warns the HTA
The HTA warns of the “significant environmental and economic impacts” across multiple industries, from bringing the peat ban forward by four years.
New data from independent economists at Oxford Economics, commissioned and released by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) shows that the fast-tracked peat ban could lead to a loss of over £500m in Gross Value Added (GVA) and over £100m in decline tax revenues.
More than half (68%) of garden centres are expected to cut staff in 2027 as a result of the expected 100 million plant and tree shortage immediately after the ban takes effect as the accelerated timeframe will “more than halve the number of growing seasons to complete extensive trialling to changes in crop production techniques,” says the HTA.
The new data shows the carbon saving benefits of bringing the peat removal forward is around 278,000t of CO2e in total, which is approximately the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by half a million trees or 11 million small shrubs over its lifetimes.
James Barnes, chairman of the HTA, says: “It is clear that the environmental loss far outweighs the carbon savings benefit of advancing the peat removal timeline to 2026.
“The study underscores the need for a balanced and measured approach to ensure optimal environmental outcomes without penalising an industry already committed to transitioning from peat.”
The shortened timeframe, from 2030 to 2026, enacted by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), could also potentially result in the loss of 12,000 jobs across industries.
Over 30% (33) of commercial growers supplying plants or trees to amenities such as parks, forests and public green spaces, report they will likely be obligated to withdraw from or default on contracts due to the 2026 ban.
Barnes adds: “The complexities of finding suitable peat-free alternatives for different plants and crops, with varying irrigation methods and nutrient strategies required, is not to be underestimated. Quality and consistency also remain barriers, further exacerbated by incentives for energy companies for biomass energy generation, which puts pressure on supplies of wood-based materials available for growing media.”
The economic impact of the industry under ban conditions was compared to the original baseline economic impact.
Oxford Economics’ assessment is limited to the economic impact on the UK economy in the year immediately following a 2026 ban and does not quantify any ongoing economic impacts relative to the baseline for subsequent years.