Coco coir pith (coco peat), such as Reiziger Coco Coir Pith, is an organic medium made from the leftover material after the fibres have been removed from the outermost shell (bolster) of the coconut, frequently used in both hydroponics and seed sowing mixes. Its advantages are that it is lightweight, relatively inert and comes from a sustainable source. However, coco coir pith comes in various grades, and can actually be detrimental to plant growth if it contains salt-water residues from poor processing. 

It took 10 centuries to make this waste the medium of the future. The first description of the coco process dates from the 11th century and was recorded by Arabian traders. In 1290, Marco Polo described the process of extracting fibres from coconuts. For centuries, this process remained unchanged. Coco peat was a waste product from factories that used coco fibre as a raw material for making sailing ropes, chair seats and mattress fillings.