A campaign for peat-free futures rooted in justice
Peatland Justice is a two-year campaign (2024–2026) led by RE-PEAT. It is a co-creative, narrative-shifting initiative that seeks to expose and transform peatland injustices.
Want to stay updated?
Why Peatland Justice?
Peatlands are being destroyed at an alarming rate—largely to supply the horticultural industry with peat-based potting soils. 80% of global peat extraction happens in Europe, causing the highest emissions per hectare of any land use.
At the heart of this crisis are two major drivers:
TRADE
Peat extraction for horticulture fuels large-scale environmental destruction. Peat is often extracted to be shipped beyond its origin country.
finance
Peatland degradation is embedded in economic systems that prioritise profit over people and ecosystems. A just financial framework is needed to change that.
Follow up on your peat knowledge!
Our Focus: Retailers in the Netherlands
We are honing in on retailers—the public-facing link in this destructive supply chain. They hold the power to drive systemic change by shifting what products are on their shelves.
Why the Netherlands? It is a horticultural giant, responsible for 10% of global peat imports.
Through our campaign, we are pushing major retailers such as Albert Heijn to:
1. Remove peat-based products from their stores
2. Replace them with regenerative alternatives
3. Ensure full transparency about the peat in their supply chains
We work alongside peatland advocacy groups, ecological farmers, and campaigners to push for a just transition away from peat—not just a quick fix that shifts the problem elsewhere.
What Does ‘Regenerative Peat-Free’ Look Like?
Going peat-free is not enough. It matters how we transition. That’s why we’ve developed three core principles to guide retailers, farmers, and gardeners in choosing peat-free growing mediums:
Ecological – Local, renewable, circular
Effective – Easy to use, reliable, widely available
Fair – Living wages, transparency, affordability
Mapping the Story of Peat
Parallel to putting pressure on the extractivist peat industry, we want to shift the narratives around peatlands, deepening public understanding and reconnection with peatlands. That’s why we are developing a deep map of peat trade in Europe through which we are layering stories, data, and perspectives to paint a fuller picture of what’s happening.
We are also experimenting with creative communication methods, including:
- Posters, stickers, and zines
- Explainer videos
- Workshops and talks
…and more!
Download our campaign posters!
Print them, share them - make the message heard!
What even is a peatland, Anyway?
A peatland Justice Comic
We are proud to collaborate with: Wetlands International-European Association, Climate Catalyst and Transnational Institute.
Peatland Justice is made possible with the generous support of Allianz Foundation, Andrea von Braun Foundation, Lush, Patagonia, the Collective Imagination Practice Community, and the Landscape Research Group.
Andrea von Braun Stiftung
