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 The Peat Zero Challenge
April 13th, 2011  
B&Q is pioneering the development of sustainable replacements 
to peat in all its products. They have asked 2degrees members for 
their guidance. So go on -- help them out!
Click here for the forum and see the following page for more.

 2 www.2degreesnetwork.com
The Peat Zero Challenge
B&Q is pioneering the development of sustainable 
replacements to peat in all its products.   Signi cant 
investment in the last 20 years has delivered success 
in partial peat replacement, and B&Q is now setting 
challenges for: 
2degrees is helping B&Q  nd fresh ideas, new relationships 
and di erent perspectives that can open the way to a total 
replacement of peat in their value chain. This is an open 
innovation challenge supported by 2degrees on behalf 
of B&Q, the UK’s market leader in DIY and gardening, and 
part of King sher Plc.
Background
In the early 1990s, environmental NGOs and then the UK 
government identi ed the use of peat in growing media 
for gardening and horticulture as unsustainable, and the 
challenge was on for industry players to  nd suitable 
alternatives.  DEFRA has held a consultation on the need 
for legislation and mandatory targets for the complete 
elimination of peat from growing media by 2020, and from 
professional horticulture by 2030.
B&Q’s Peat Zero Challenge: 
As the leading garden centre retailer in the UK, B&Q is the 
principle seller of bagged growing media nationally. B&Q 
sells over 800,000 litres of growing media annually.
B&Q has led the industry in looking for suitable peat 
alternatives, and has had success in signi cantly reducing 
the amount of peat-based products that it sources and 
sells. However, it has not been successful in completely 
eliminating peat from these products but the goal remains 
extremely challenging.
The substitute growing media needs to:
•	Satisfy the performance requirements of the value 
chain serving horticulture and gardening,
•	To be sustainable an alternative, or set of alternatives
•	To be available to substitute large volumes, 
•	At consistent quality, 
•	Meet seasonal peak demand, and 
•	Be cost competitive. 
It’s a major challenge.  
The innovation opportunity:
In light of DEFRA’s recent consultation proposal to 
eliminate peat from all bagged growing media by 2020 
and professional horticulture by 2030, B&Q has asked 
 2degrees to help them source  quality, scalable and 
sustainable solutions to address this challenge, inviting 
discussion from a broad range of contributors. 
The  rst stage in the collaborative innovation process is 
to source insight, ideas and opinions from a broad range 
of people on potential peat alternatives.  2degrees will 
then work with B&Q to analyse and  lter the key themes, 
ideas and opportunities that warrant investment to 
develop further. You are invited to participate in this  rst 
exploratory stage that may lead to further involvement 
opportunities.
Who can contribute?
Anyone can contribute via the 2degrees Forum at stage 
one, and we welcome contributions from a broad range of 
sectors and individuals. 
Why contribute?
The forum discussion o ers participants the opportunity to 
engage directly with B&Q’s Sustainable Business team, as 
they explore sustainable alternatives to peat. Contributors 
have the opportunity to: 
Upon completion of stage one, participants will have 
access to an analysis of the key themes and ideas, and 
contributors with the most plausible ideas will be invited 
to join a more in-depth discussion with B&Q and 2degrees.
How to contribute?
If you think you or your company can o er such alternative 
solutions, or if you have been faced with a similar challenge, 
 please input into the forum discussion here.   All initial 
responses need to be in by Friday 22nd April.
1. 100% peat 
replacement from 
bagged media by 
2020, and
2. 100% peat 
replacement 
for professional 
horticulture by 2030.
1. share their 
experiences and 
insights on the 
bene ts and 
challenges of peat 
alternative products, 
2. potentially pitch 
their ideas and 
innovative products 
to address B&Q’s 
challenge, 
3. in uence B&Q’s 
future strategy for 
growing media, and 
4. potentially 
develop long term 
relationships with 
the UK’s leading 
DIY and gardening 
retailer.