Sizzle announces first campaign investment
Sizzle is delighted to announce that £320,000 of grant funding has been secured from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation to hasten the transition from the use of peat in horticulture to more sustainable alternatives.
The UK government has announced their intention to ban the sale of peat to amateur gardeners in England with Wales and Scotland likely to follow suit. This welcome step will protect biodiversity and support the transition to net zero but does pose four intriguing questions.
What sustainable materials will replace the estimated 1.7 million cubic meters of peat used in horticulture?
How ready are gardeners for a peat free future?
Is there a suitable replacement for some of the more challenging plant groups?
What legislation needs to change to make it easier to use more sustainable peat alternatives?
Answering these questions demands systemic change from producers through to customers plus new levels of collaboration between organisations who haven’t previously connected. Sizzle will address these requirements in a localised trial that will:
Find sustainable alternatives to replace peat. It is possible that derivatives from green, agricultural and food waste could be part of the mix and localised trials will explore this potential.
Demonstrate to gardeners how best to use peat alternatives as a growing medium and highlight how composting and the use of wormeries can create mulch and soil enhancers.
Reduce contamination from waste streams to enhance the quality of materials that could be part of the peat replacement process.
Create a diverse leadership team using their combined reach and knowledge to maximise the impact and profile of the project.
Identify potential legislative blockers which might unexpectedly hinder the use of waste derivatives as part of the transition from peat.
This first campaign epitomises the way the Sizzle plans to deliver our ambition to rethink the way that products and services are delivered to radically reduce environmentally impact whilst being affordable, high quality and financially viable. The core elements are:
The establishment of a diverse partnership of organisations committed to supporting the project aims. These organisations include waste management companies, the RHS, garden retailers, trade bodies, NGOs and academics. Uniting these groups will maximise impact, reduce duplication and create new collaborative solutions.
The exploration of new approaches making it easier for people to select a greener choice by offering more sustainable alternatives to peat and providing guidance on how best to use these alternatives. This will include the potential to save money by using garden and food waste rather than purchasing products.
Addressing changes that are required across the whole system including the legislative framework, business practices and citizen behaviour.
Developing proven solutions that are replicable nationally and are accessible to all interested parties.
The first step in the campaign is to select an area for the funded trial. If this is of interest or you would like to be involved in the wider development of activities, please contact trewin@sizzle.org.uk or visit www.sizzle.org.uk