“Klasmann – Deilmann Šilutė”, a member of the Growing Media Producers Association, has achieved a breakthrough by developing a sustainable alternative to peat, widely used in agriculture. The project was carried out with support from the Innovation Agency of Lithuania.
During the project, the company developed a new type of growing media made from renewable plant and mineral materials, including wood fibers, perlite, and vermiculite offering a more sustainable alternative to peat. The project included not only the formulation of new raw materials, such as fibers from coniferous and deciduous trees or wood mixed with bark, but also the development of their production technologies. Scientific collaboration with Vytautas Magnus University played an important role in the process.
The company also expanded its R&D infrastructure, constructing a dedicated production facility and installing experimental equipment: production lines for wood fiber, perlite, and vermiculite, as well as specialized storage and packaging systems, a liquid gas tank, and laboratory instruments. This infrastructure now supports ongoing R&D efforts aimed at creating innovative growing media tailored to various cultivation systems and plant types.
Dozens of new substrate formulations were developed during the project. 33 were tested under real-world conditions, and five were selected as the most promising for commercial use. These new formulations have already been offered to clients in over 70 countries. Interest in the peat-free solutions is particularly strong in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Austria.
“Peat extraction contributes to CO₂ emissions. In line with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, it is essential to reduce the use of peat in growing media. By using ingredients from renewable resources, we move toward more sustainable and climate-conscious horticulture,” says Kazimieras Kaminskas, CEO of “Klasmann – Deilmann Šilutė”.
According to him, the market demand for eco-friendly solutions is steadily increasing, as clients actively seek out products that help minimize environmental impact.
