Sustainability

Sustainability in Peat production

Our commitment to environmental responsibility is reflected in every stage of our operation

As one of Estonia’s leading peat moss producers, we recognize that the long-term health of our business and the well-being of our environment are interconnected. Our commitment to environmental responsibility is reflected in every stage of our operation, from how we select harvesting sites to how we restore them after use. We manage peatlands as resources and a vital part of ecosystem with immense ecological value. Through our work we strive to maintain this balance, delivering horticultural substrates that support both horticultural productivity and environmental resilience.

Why Peatlands Matters

Peatlands are among the most important natural ecosystems on Earth. Although they cover only about 3% of the global land surface, they store approximately 30% of all soil carbon, more than all of the world’s forests combined. These carbon-rich wetlands play a vital role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it underground for centuries. In addition to their carbon storage function, peatlands help regulate regional water cycles by absorbing rainfall, reducing flood risk, and maintaining groundwater levels. They also serve as unique biodiversity hotspots, supporting species that are specially adapted to their waterlogged, acidic conditions—many of which are found nowhere else.

However, peatlands are sensitive ecosystems that can be severely impacted by unregulated or poorly managed extraction. When peat is harvested irresponsibly, it can release significant quantities of greenhouse gases, disrupt natural hydrology, and lead to the irreversible loss of biodiversity. This is why the sustainable use of peatlands is critical. We recognize that the future of horticulture depends on healthy peatland ecosystems. Our approach is centered on ensuring that peatland functions, as carbon sinks, water regulators, and habitats are protected and restored. By understanding the long-term environmental importance of these landscapes, we make conscious decisions that reflect our role as both producers and protectors.

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Supporting Global Sustainability

Our sustainability strategy aligns closely with global environmental priorities, including climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and responsible land use. That’s why we have adopted a proactive, science-based approach to peat extraction and land rehabilitation. Our goal is to ensure that our production practices support both the professional horticultural sector and the long-term health of the environment.

Through proper land management, we support these goals while securing a stable future for the peat industry and the professionals who depend on it. These solutions harness the natural functions of restored peatlands to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change.

As former extraction sites are rewetted and rewilded, they begin to act as carbon sinks once again, capturing atmospheric CO₂ and rebuilding long-term carbon storage layers. These restored areas also help regulate local microclimates, retain water during drought periods, and mitigate flood risks, making them powerful tools for climate adaptation as well as mitigation.

We focus our efforts in rewetting to halt emissions. Hydrological works that support water retention and climate resilience. Biodiversity restoration that enhances ecosystem stability. Track carbon flux and ecosystem recovery. By transforming harvested landscapes into functional ecosystems, we turn responsibility into regeneration, and natural processes into climate assets.

By prioritizing ecological integrity alongside high-quality production, we help protect vital natural systems while delivering real value to our customers, partners, and the planet.

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Peatland Maintenance

Peatland maintenance is essential for ensuring the long-term functionality, safety, and sustainability of peat extraction areas. These operations are carried out regularly throughout the year, most intensively during the spring and autumn, when conditions are most favorable for land improvement activities.

Peatland maintenance is essential for ensuring the long-term functionality, safety, and sustainability of peat extraction areas. These operations are carried out regularly throughout the year, most intensively during the spring and autumn, when conditions are most favorable for land improvement activities. The primary goal of these efforts is to maintain the working condition of the peat production infrastructure, while also protecting the natural peatland environment and ensuring compliance with ecological standards.

One of the most important areas of peatland maintenance is the upkeep of drainage systems. Peat harvesting depends on a controlled water regime, which is achieved through a network of ditches, culverts, sedimentation ponds, and water control structures. Over time, these systems can become blocked with vegetation, sediment, or even beaver activity, which can lead to waterlogging, reduce field access, and negatively affect peat quality. Ditch cleaning and reshaping are typically performed with excavators or custom-built ditching equipment. Regular maintenance ensures water flows freely through the site, preventing excessive peat decomposition and the release of greenhouse gases from drying or oxidizing layers.

In addition to water managment, roads and paths across the bog must be kept in excellent condition. Heavy machinery such as peat vacuum harvesters, tractors, and trailers rely on stable, compacted surfaces to operate safely. Maintenance crews smooth out ruts, regrade slopes, and apply gravel or other surface materials where needed. These works are particularly important in spring when freeze-thaw cycles can destabilize access roads, or in wet conditions when the risk of machinery getting stuck is high. Effective road maintenance reduces downtime and machinery wear and also increasing safety.

Field surface maintenance is another critical component of ongoing upkeep. After several harvesting seasons, peat fields may develop uneven surfaces, depressions, or accumulations of plant material. These irregularities can interfere with harvesting efficiency and water drainage. To correct this, the surface has to be leveled, compacted, and cleared of vegetation using specialized field equipment. Where necessary, peat surfaces are reshaped to improve drainage or to prepare for future restoration activities. The goal is always to preserve the productivity of the field while minimizing long-term environmental impact.

In many areas, beaver activity presents a specific challenge to peatland management. Beavers often build dams that block drainage channels, causing uncontrolled water retention and flooding. Maintenance crews must regularly inspect for such activity and, if necessary, dismantle dams and install protective structures to prevent recurrence. Effective wildlife management is an integral part of peatland care.

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Responsible Peatland Management

Responsible peat production requires a holistic, life-cycle approach to land management, one that considers the impact of our actions. We manage all our peat extraction activities through the framework of RPP -Responsibly Produced Peat certification.

RPP is an internationally recognized system that ensures environmental integrity through the entire peatland use process. The RPP certification proves our commitment to transparency, ecological accountability, and long-term restoration. It governs how we plan, develop, monitor, and restore each site, ensuring that sustainability is never compromised.

Before a single layer of peat is harvested, we carry out detailed environmental assessments on all potential extraction sites. These evaluations include hydrological studies, biodiversity assessments, and legal compliance checks to ensure that the land is suitable for responsible use. Areas of high conservation value, or those with sensitive water systems, are excluded entirely. By taking a precautionary approach to site selection, we protect vulnerable ecosystems and preserve valuable habitats for native flora and fauna. This forward-planning is essential to minimizing environmental impact and for maintaining the long-term viability of peat resources.

Once a site is approved for use, our peatlands are managed with continuous oversight and long-term planning in mind. We implement strict environmental protocols, including routine monitoring of water levels, air emissions, and soil conditions. Our goal is to create a production system that meets the needs of our customers while protecting the integrity of our environment. Every action is guided by the principle of responsible use, ensuring that we can harvest peat today without compromising the ecosystem.

Peat Harvesting & Restoratio

We use low-impact harvesting techniques that reduce physical disruption to the peat surface. Our machines and extraction methods have been chosen to minimize soil compaction, erosion, and disturbance to the surrounding landscape. We maintain operational buffers between active sites and natural water bodies or conservation zones, protecting sensitive ecosystems from unintended damage. By reducing our ecological footprint during extraction, we preserve the land’s capacity for recovery.

Our restoration work begins with rewetting, the process of returning harvested peatlands to their original condition. By restoring the natural hydrology of the site, we prevent carbon emissions and initiate the conditions needed for natural vegetation to return to the site. Once rewetting is complete, we focus on revegetation with native peat-forming species, which gradually rebuild the peat layer over time.

When you work with us, you are not just buying peat, you are partnering with a producer that takes environmental responsibility and challenges seriously and follows certified, science-based practices to protect the landscapes we all depend on.

Our products are shipped to over 35 countries worldwide to be used professionally in various horticultural fields. Our products are certified to the highest international standards such as RHP and RPP. Contact our international sales team to discuss how our products can help you grow.

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