International Certification of Sustainable Peat Substitutes and Growing Media
HORTICERT is an international certification system for peat substitutes and growing media.
It verifies ecological, social, and economic sustainability of materials such as green compost, wood fibers, (composted) bark, and coconut-based products and requires their traceability throughout the entire supply chain. The system includes a standardized methodology for the calculation of the carbon footprint of peat substitutes and growing media. This enables statements to be made on emissions savings of peat-free or peat-reduced growing media in comparison to a defined reference product made of 100% peat. By certifying peat substitutes, HORTICERT promotes the reduction of peat in growing media and supports the use of sustainable alternatives, while helping businesses and end consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.
Horticulture and certification
What does HORTICERT mean?
The name HORTICERT combines the terms “Horticulture” and “Certification” and underlines the international orientation of the certification system.
Elements of the Certification System
The four essential elements of HORTICERT include the risk-based verification of ecological, social, and economic sustainability criteria, the greenhouse gas calculation of peat substitutes and growing media, the traceability of supply chains, and the system structure.
Ecological, Social and Economic Sustainability
HORTICERT verifies the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of peat substitutes along the entire value chain, from extracting peat substitutes to the production of the final growing medium. To support sustainability of various peat substitutes across the world, HORTICERT has established seven sustainability principles.
Greenhouse Gas Calculation
HORTICERT determines the individual CO2 footprint of peat substitutes and final growing media. The greenhouse gas calculation considers, among other things, the use of raw materials, water, energy and fuel consumption of the production facilities, the generation and disposal of waste, as well as transport emissions. The uniform calculation methodology allows the comparison of peat-free or peat-reduced growing media with conventional products with high peat content as a reference product.
Traceability of the Supply Chains
Supply chain traceability verifies that sustainability requirements are met throughout the entire production process, from the extraction of raw materials to the production of the final product. It also verifies that no more material is sold as sustainable than has actually been sustainably produced and certified. Soon, a digital traceability system developed specifically for this purpose will be used to trace the supply chains in HORTICERT.
System Structure
HORTICERT was developed in an open multi-stakeholder process alongside representatives from the growing media industry, trade, politics, scientific institutions, and NGOs. Currently, more than 40 international organizations are participating in the multi-stakeholder dialogue.
Development of HORTICERT
According to the German Federal Government’s Climate Action Plan 2050 and the Peat Reduction Strategy of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) published in July 2022, the use of peat in hobby horticulture is to be ended in Germany by 2026 and reduced as far as possible in professional horticulture by 2030.
Against this background, BMLEH has commissioned Meo Carbon Solutions GmbH with the development and implementation of an international certification system for peat substitutes. The project is funded by the BMLEH based on a decision by the Federal German Parliament and is carried out under the direction of the Agency for Renewable Resources (Fachagentur für Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. – FNR).
By certifying peat substitutes, HORTICERT supports the goal of peat reduction and verifies that sustainable and climate-friendly alternatives to peat are used. After the project’s funding ends in 2025, HORTICERT will continue as a stand-alone, independent certification system.