The good that a cup of lipton(r) tea can do…
Not only is tea the world’s most popular drink, Lipton is the world’s leading tea brand. Which is why Lipton believe in looking after the world – as we source, pack, grow and buy our tea.
When you’re a big company, sustainability is a big responsibility (our parent company Unilever buys 12% of the world’s black tea). Yet we think sustainable development is a great opportunity too – because we can help create a brighter future for our planet. One cup of tea at a time.
For big and small farmers
Of course, sustainability means looking after other people, too. Our tea farmers can be found in Kenya, Argentina, Tanzania and Sri Lanka – some of these plantations we own. Plus 1000 plantations and over 600,000 smallholder farms are sourced by us. And because we’re working on such a global scale, we’ve also teamed up with global organization, the Rainforest Alliance, to ensure that our tea offers a fair deal for all our workers.
Reaching wider communities
Being an independent organization, the Rainforest Alliance works with individuals, communities and companies (such as ours) to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable lifestyles. Our Lipton’s Kericho estate was the first tea plantation in the world to become Rainforest Alliance certified in 2007. And since 2015, 100% of our tea is sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified tea gardens. It’s something we’re very proud of.
Improving the tea industry
Yet there’s always more to do. The Rainforest Alliance also encourages farmers to grow crops and manage their estates in a more sustainable way. This is done through environmental protection, social equity and economic viability. That means helping farmers improve their education and training while creating social rights, benefits and living wages for workers and their families. By choosing tea that’s certified by the Rainforest Alliance, you’re making a positive difference to the future of our farmers, their workers and the planet as a whole.
Caring for the environment
And we strongly believe in having a positive impact on the planet (while serving our customers with the tea they love). We do this through environmental initiatives such as the Unilever Sustainable Agriculture Code.
Through these commitments, we’ve been able to increase the number of indigenous trees on our estates (planting over 370,000 trees to encourage birds and wildlife). We’ve improved waste water treatment to create local wetlands. And over 97% of the energy that is needed to produce tea in our Lipton estates, comes from renewable energy sources.
We also want to reduce – or even eliminate – the use of pesticides in farming. By working with the Rainforest Alliance, we encourage the use of biological alternatives, and ensure proper training, if any pesticides are used. And although trace amounts may still be found in some of our teas, we are continuously working to reduce this.
SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS, LIKE YOU
Being sustainable is about recognizing all the places we can make a difference. So our efforts are aligned with those of international authorities, including the World Health Organization. It’s just another part of our responsibility bit. But if you have any concerns, please get in touch through our contact us page – we’ll be more than happy to share more information with you. After all, we live, breathe – and drink – tea, too. Just like you. And we’re grateful for all your support.
