Peat extraction, trade and use in Europe: a material flow analysis

Peat is a fossil material used as a component of horticultural growing media as well as fuel. In a context of climate debates, several European countries have decided to address greenhouse gas emissions from peat extraction and use. In this situation, reliable data on peat amounts are needed as a basis for public discussion and policy-making. However, the quantity and quality of the available data is generally considered insufficient. In this context, this article provides a reliable overview of the peat market in Europe for the period 2013-2017 based on the systematic collection, selection and combination of available data. The results show that around 20 million tons of peat are extracted yearly in Europe, including 62 % for energy and 38 % for non-energy purposes. Energy peat is consumed where it is produced, whereas non-energy peat is exported from Northern Europe to Western Europe on a massive scale. In some countries, the data combination reveals incompatibilities between extraction and trade data, with an evident case for Germany. The accuracy and the timeliness of the results could be improved with more up-to-date information on the composition of peat and growing media as well as an adaptation of the definition used in trade statistics.