Check your compost is peat free

Peat is an organic material found in wetlands. Peatlands store a great deal of carbon (globally, they hold twice as much carbon as the world's forests) and are critical habitats for wildlife.

When peat is removed, it releases the carbon that was stored. Currently, damaged peatlands have contributed almost 5% to global CO2 emissions. A 60-litre bag of 100 per cent sphagnum peat compost could lead to 50kg of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.

You may want to avoid buying plants that have been grown in peat-based compost too.

If everyone stopped buying compost containing peat, stopping peat from being extracted and allowing peatlands to recover, this could significantly reduce carbon emissions.