Global tea brand Tetley adds Rainforest Alliance certification to its world-famous blend of tea
Tetley, the world's second largest manufacturer and distributor of tea, has today announced its decision to obtain Rainforest Alliance certification for the Tetley brand globally.
Tetley has committed to purchasing all of the tea for its branded teabag and loose tea products from Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM farms. All Tetley branded black, green and red (Rooibos) tea, including flavoured and decaffeinated varieties, will be part of the certification programme, which is scheduled for completion by 2016.
The first certified products will be available for the UK foodservice channel from April 2010. Tetley products sourced from Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM farms will then become more widely available in the UK and Canada early in 2011, followed by launches in other key markets including the US, Australia and mainland Europe from 2012.
Given its presence in 70 countries around the world, Tetley’s commitment to Rainforest Alliance certification is a significant move for the global tea industry that will have a wide-reaching and positive impact across the brand’s global supply chains. The collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance will empower and support growers to proactively address and manage the social and environmental challenges they face. Tea producers in all the major tea-growing regions will benefit.
All farms that are Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM have met the environmental, social, and economic standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). The SAN standards cover ecosystem conservation, worker rights and safety, wildlife protection, water and soil conservation, agrochemical reduction, decent housing, and legal wages and contracts for workers.
Tetley is one of the brands of the Tata Beverage Group. CEO, Peter Unsworth, said, “Our consumers will be able to enjoy their favourite Tetley blend knowing it has been produced in a way that respects the environment and the tea growers and pickers. We are delighted to be working with the Rainforest Alliance and Sustainable Agriculture Network who are well positioned to support a brand with the scale and reach of Tetley”.
Responding to Tetley’s announcement, Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance said, “We welcome this commitment from Tetley wholeheartedly. Tea farmers have faced many challenges, but working together we can make industry-wide changes to ensure positive environmental and social practices, and give consumers what they really want – reassurance that their cup of tea benefits both farmers and the land.”
Sally Uren, Deputy CEO of Forum for the Future commented, “We have worked with Tetley for eight years, helping them bring sustainability to the heart of their business. Their plans with the Rainforest Alliance are evidence of a deep commitment to delivering a great product in a sustainable way. By doing the right thing for growers, pickers and the environment, Tetley is signalling its long term vision of helping create a sustainable global tea industry”.
For further information please contact
For Tetley: Sara Howe: +44 (0)20 8338 4590
For Rainforest Alliance:
Christina Cullen: +44 (0)7985 440 238
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Tetley
Tetley is a growing global tea brand with a presence in 70 countries around the world. It is the market leader in the UK and Canada and in total 75 million cups of Tetley tea a day are drunk worldwide. For more information please visit www.tetley.com
About TATA Beverage Group
TATA Beverage Group comprises a number of major beverage brands including Tetley, Tata Tea, Good Earth, Eight O’Clock Coffee and Himalayan. With revenues in 2008/09 of $1.07bn, the group employs 2,920 employees worldwide and has its corporate headquarters in the UK. The Tetley Group was purchased by Tata Tea in 2000. For more information on the Tata Beverage Group brands please visit www.tata.com
About Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance is an internationally-focused, not-for-profit organisation that was established in the USA in 1987. The organisation works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour. To date, the Rainforest Alliance has helped conserve the water, soil and biodiversity of more than 50 million hectares of forest and farmland in 68 countries and improved the lives of more than 2 million workers and their families. For more information please visit www.rainforest-alliance.org
About Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP)
The ETP is a non-commercial alliance of over 20 international tea packers who share a vision for a global tea industry that is socially just and environmentally sustainable. ETP was established in 1997 when a number of large tea companies made the ground-breaking decision to work together to promote sustainability in the sector, rather than competing on ethics. ETP works to monitor and improve the social and environmental conditions under which tea is produced and to improve the lives of tea workers. ETP collaborates with a range of organisations to achieve these goals, from international certification programmes and development agencies, to local NGOs. For more information please visit www.ethicalteapartnership.org
About Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future, the sustainable development charity, works in partnership with leading businesses and public service providers, helping them devise more sustainable strategies and deliver new products and services which enhance people’s lives and are better for the environment. For more information visit www.forumforthefuture.org