A shocking problem has been revealed in the world of whisky. The beautiful Scottish island of Islay, famous for its whisky distilleries, has been struck unlucky by an accidental discovery, which suggests its peat could run out by 2021.

Will we run out of peat moss?

Sphagnum peat moss is not being replenished as fast as it is being harvested and sold, so we will run out at some point. Even if you do not use peat moss directly, you probably purchase it in things like most potting mixes and seed starters.

Is Scottish peat sustainable?

It is now widely appreciated that peatlands and peat bogs constitute some of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the UK, and that their continued exploitation is a sensitive issue. Happily, the whisky industry generally has a good reputation for using their resources of peat in a sustainable fashion.