Sainsbury's has made a promise to shoppers that will help the planet. The supermarket has put in a decade of research and development to become the UK's first supermarket to sell conventional mushrooms that have been grown without peat. Apparently, we eat more than 1.

5 billion portions of mushrooms every year in the UK. But the bad news is that conventional mushroom crop production currently relies on the use of peat, a precious carbon-rich natural resource that takes thousands of years to grow in wetland ecosystems. Now, scientists for Sainsbury's have found a way to 'significantly change' the growth process to reduce the carbon intensity of mushroom production, leaving peat in the ground, which will help protect nature and get the retailer one step closer to its Net Zero goals.

Read more: I tried supermarket tomato soup and found 'ultimate comfort' in a can £1.15 cheaper than Heinz Read next: I went to B&M and found a 'super cosy' way to keep warm for £10 without gas or electricity Customers at more than 200 stores across the UK will be able to buy ‘Grown without Peat’ by Sainsbury’s mushrooms as they are rolled out this month. Initially the change will be to White Closed Cup 300g and White Baby Button 200g variants.

As a natural carbon storer, peat is said to play a key role in regulating earth’s climate. Extracting peat to help grow products such as mushrooms is contributing to climate change and the destruction of wetland ecosystems, as carbon emissions are rel.