Our thinking

From waste to wonder

21 February, 2025

When we come across a product we find inspiring, we like to share it with you. Treasure Gardening’s launch of Wonderfuel is a shining example of how sustainable business models can tackle multiple environmental challenges while delivering top- notch products, and it’s coming soon to a garden centre near you. 

This innovative peat-free compost not only helps reduce carbon emissions by protecting vital peatlands, but also transforms waste materials from various industries. Traditional peat compost, while historically favoured for its moisture retention and nutrient-holding capabilities, comes with significant environmental drawbacks. The extraction of peat damages delicate ecosystems and releases substantial amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Damaged peatlands are responsible for nearly 5% of human-made greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgent need for alternatives. 

By using by-products like wood fibre from furniture off-cuts, composted bark sourced from the UK forestry industry, coconut coir and green compost, Wonderfuel embodies the principles of a circular economy, seeing potential and value in materials others might discard. 

Wonderfuel doesn’t just tick the sustainability box; the formulation has out-performed both traditional peat-based and peat-free alternatives in rigorous laboratory tests and growing trials. Founded by environmental entrepreneur (and friend of Good Business) Trewin Restorick and horticultural expert Simon Blackhurst and funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, the company aims to transform the horticultural industry by turning ‘waste into wonder’.  

Future plans include exploring new ways to integrate UK-based waste by-products into new formulations, such as waste hops from breweries, dog hair and sheep wool. And we are excited to see what creative solution they will come up with next! 

By Emma Alajarin