Jiffy Group Recognized for Environmental Commitment in Responsibly Managing Peatlands

Posted by Brian Sparks|July 27, 2023

Photo: Jiffy Group

Jiffy Group has been certified for Responsibly Managed Peatlands for its peat bogs in Canada, illustrating its commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Jiffy met the requirements of the Veriflora Certification for Responsible Horticultural Peat Moss Production, independently verified by the third-party certification body SCS Global Services (SCS). The certified peat moss production operation includes all open peatlands, closed peatlands, and adjacent land designated as buffer zones, donor sites and/or HEV (High Ecological Value) areas.

Jiffy wanted independent confirmation that the management of its peat bogs and peat moss were environmentally and socially responsible. Jiffy`s company values are aligned with worker protection, workplace conditions, ecosystem protection, peatland restoration, and product quality. Jiffy discovered that this standard would benchmark the progress in those categories and knew that third-party certification by SCS would give the transparent communication they were looking for.

What Does the Certification Ensure?

Peatland Restoration and Rehabilitation: Jiffy has a verified restoration plan in place, which is important because healthy peatlands help tackle climate change by absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide. Restoration also helps improve wildlife habitat. Jiffy`s plan includes donor sites where small amounts of peat can be gathered and applied to the harvested areas, allowing new peat to form over time. The planned restoration will lead to a Sphagnum-dominated bog ecosystem. Healthy peatland ecosystems are a major source of iron for the ocean, which is a vital micronutrient for phytoplankton growth and photosynthesis.
Protection of Ecosystem and Biodiversity: Jiffy regularly surveys and monitors the vegetation on its lands and employs biologists to ensure that no avoidable harm is caused to threatened or endangered habitats or species on our lands. The company also works to protect watersheds, follow best practices to minimize the potential for contamination, and regularly conduct water and soil testing.
Fair Labor Practices: Jiffy follows core principles that ensure equal opportunity and non-discrimination during hiring processes and employment. Equal pay for equal work policies, worker rights, labor laws, and fair wages are all crucial aspects of the success of its operations, along with many other social issues covered under the standard.
Product Quality: Jiffy has established processes to deliver the highest quality product. Its products are responsibly managed from start to finish, including tracking ingredients and mixes, maintaining proper temperatures of peat in its different stages, having procedures to avoid contamination, verifying quality in the laboratory, inspecting packaging, and performing product quality testing.
Community Benefits: Jiffy has a focus within its company on philanthropic work and supporting local businesses through donations. Jiffy also engages local community stakeholders to address any concerns related to peat harvesting, ensuring that operations don’t negatively affect the community’s natural resources or other aspects of the community. The certification checks to make sure that Jiffy evaluates potential economic effects that may result from their operations.
Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency: Jiffy has a plan in place to reduce the environmental footprint of its operation. It has transitioned to LED lighting at the plant and invested in more efficient machinery with lower fuel consumption. Jiffy will continue to build operational reductions and tackle more sustainability issues, such as increasing the use of recycled plastic and ensuring that growers have materials they can easily recycle.
Safe Waste Management: Jiffy has an integrated waste management system. Hazardous waste is properly managed and contained by trained staff. Organic, inorganic, and hazardous wastes are properly disposed of, ensuring the health and safety of workers and the environment.
Leadership in Responsible Peatland Management: “Jiffy Group has proven to be a leader in responsible peatland management with their achievement of certification,” says Kevin Warner, SCS Global Services’ Director, ESG Certifications and Strategy. “After undergoing an assessment with SCS Global Services, Jiffy has successfully demonstrated their achievements with credibility and independent verification. By following the SCS Responsibly Managed Peatlands Standard, they are well-equipped with the framework to continue to improve processes and efficiencies that help drive more sustainable global efforts.”

The Road Ahead

“As we continue to look after our employees and the environment, we will grow our operations under the light of responsible management and keep improving our processes,” says Richard Stevenson, Jiffy Sustainability Manager. “We are proud of our achievements, and this certification distinguishes us and the work we’re doing to ensure a high quality of life for our workers and communities, a consistently hiqh quality product, and the resilience of our peatbog operation with a focus on minimizing environmental impacts.”