The calculator was developed by the ‘P4 Group’, which was set up following a recommendation from the Sustainable Growing Media Taskforce (SGMTF).

Steve Harper, chair of the GMA, said the group had been tasked with developing a tool that could be used to assess the environmental values of growing media. “The result is this ‘calculator’ that enables manufacturers to measure and score seven criteria for the key materials used in products: energy usage, water usage, social compliance, habitat and biodiversity, renewability, pollution and resource use. These scores are combined and weighted to give an overall score for the product.”

Version 1 of the calculator and supporting guidance notes and documents have been published on the HTA website and are ready to be trialled. “A number of GMA members have already nominated materials to test,” Harper added, “and we hope to feed these results back at a launch event on 30 June 2015 at Stoneleigh Park.”

The trial will allow manufacturers to see how the tool works and will guide the setting of benchmarks for the overall scores. Ongoing work to set benchmarks and develop a b2b scheme based on the outputs of the calculator will be taken forward by a new steering group (the Responsible Sourcing Scheme Steering Group). This group has representatives from manufacturers, retailers, government, interest groups and growing media experts and will be meeting on 21 May to take forward P4s work. The intention is to develop a b2b tool for the industry to replace the existing Growing Media Initiative.

Development of a standard methodology for the quality testing of growing media products – another project identified through the work of the SGMTF – is also progressing. A draft based on the results of earlier studies has already been developed and results should be available by mid to late October this year. “These projects demonstrate the industry’s commitment to ensuring we produce growing media that is not only fit for purpose but that is sourced with environmental considerations at its heart,” Harper said

Finally, 2014 data from a project that is mapping peat usage year on year is due to be released towards the end of April. Unusually good weather conditions enabling longer harvest periods last year, so there could be an increase on the previous year. The GMA will review the findings at it summer meeting and will be formulating a response to the Government’s Policy Review which takes place over the summer.