Responsible Sourcing Scheme

The Responsible Sourcing Scheme for Growing Media is an industry-driven initiative that empowers consumers to make informed decisions about the environmental responsibility of the growing media products they purchase and use. By utilising an easy-to-understand traffic light system, consumers can quickly compare the environmental responsibility ratings of various products and assess their impact on the environment. This enables buyers to confidently choose more sustainably produced products, such as those with a green 'A' rating over a yellow 'C' rated item. The scheme was created in response to the government's planned proposal to ban peat for amateur gardening by 2024. As peat alternatives were introduced, it became crucial to evaluate the environmental responsibility of these new substrates. The Responsible Sourcing Scheme, developed over a decade and launched in 2022, assesses each growing media substrate against a stringent set of criteria in collaboration with key industry stakeholders. Our scoring system evaluates products based on seven criteria: Energy Use, Water Use, Social Compliance, Habitat & Biodiversity, Pollution, Resource Use Efficiency, and Renewability. Manufacturers provide evidence for each criterion to an independent auditor, who then assigns a score between 0 and 20 based on the environmental responsibility of the production process. The individual scores are combined to create an overall score displayed on product packaging. The goal of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme is to enable consumers to make the most responsible decisions when choosing their growing media without demonising peat or any other substrate. It also encourages retailers and growers to consider the most efficient and environmentally responsible substrates for their products. The scheme is open to any manufacturer, grower, or retailer who produces, uses, or sells growing media. To learn more at responsiblesourcingscheme.org or email us at info@responsiblesourcing.org.uk.