2 july 2026
This week, the annual report of the Dutch Covenant Environmental Impact for Potting Soil and Growing Media was presented in The Hague to the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature. As a partner in the covenant, RHP was also present on this occasion. The conclusion of the annual report is clear: the covenant partners achieved important results in 2025. The share of renewable raw materials increased to 36% in the professional market and to 60% in the consumer market, while the share of RPP-certified peat rose to 95%.
The Covenant Environmental Impact Potting Soil and Growing Media was signed in 2022. Its objective is to reduce the environmental impact of potting soils and growing media through the increased use of renewable raw materials, responsible peat use, innovation and collaboration throughout the supply chain.
The annual report shows that the target for renewable raw materials in the professional market (35%) was achieved, with the share increasing from 33% to 36%. The target for the consumer market was also met, with the share of renewable raw materials growing from 54% to 60%. The share of responsibly produced peat (RPP-certified) increased from 83% to 95%. As approximately 5% residual peat is used, for which RPP certification is not possible, the target has effectively been achieved. Only the target for compost has not yet been met, although compost use increased by 17% compared with 2024.
In addition to these measurable results, important progress was made in 2025 in the areas of research, innovation and collaboration. Further work was carried out on the Route and Opportunities Roadmap for renewable raw materials, progress was made on an assessment framework for new raw materials, and the development of a scientifically substantiated LCA methodology advanced further.
The results would not have been achieved without the cooperation between the covenant partners, emphasises Gerard Schouw, chair of the Covenant Environmental Impact Potting Soil and Growing Media: “The results of 2025 demonstrate that the covenant is working. Government, businesses, knowledge institutes and civil society organisations have jointly taken important steps towards growing media with a lower environmental impact. Achieving three of the four targets is an accomplishment of which all parties involved can be proud. At the same time, we recognise that the challenges on the road to 2030 remain significant and that continued collaboration is essential.”
With the targets for renewable raw materials now achieved, the covenant remains on track to realise its ambitions for 2030. In 2026, an independent evaluation of the cooperation within the covenant will take place, while further efforts will focus on implementing the Route and Opportunities roadmap for renewable raw materials.
