UTZ CERTIFIED TEA
UTZ CERTIFIED works together with major stakeholders from industry, government and civil society to create a more sustainable tea sector.
Why an UTZ CERTIFIED program for tea?
The tea sector faces challenges like habitat conversion & soil erosion, heavy energy use, improper use of chemicals, low farmer income and poor labor practices like lack of decent housing, health & safety regulations and proper training. At the same time consumers are increasingly aware of these challenges and demand products that are grown in a sustainable way. Companies and brands are searching for ways to credibly show their commitment to sustainability.
Using its experience in coffee, UTZ CERTIFIED is committed to making a difference for and with the tea sector. The goal of the program is to create an efficient certification program for socially and environmentally responsible tea production that meets the needs of both producers and markets.
Milestones
2007
- Together with its strategic partner Solidaridad, UTZ CERTIFIED launched its program for a mainstream sustainable tea market.
2008
- Code of Conduct developed, tested and revised via public stakeholder consultation.
- First National Reference Groups set up in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka to further engage local stakeholders.
- Together with Solidaridad and with support of the DE Foundation the first producers start implementing sustainable and professional production practices.
2009
- Code of Conduct and Chain of Custody version 1.0 finalized.
- Partnership with Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP): ETP recognizes UTZ certification and no longer monitors these estates to avoid duplication and to increase efficiency.
- First producers in Malawi, Indonesia and India certified and first volumes of certified tea available. In total 9 estates in Malawi & Indonesia and a producer group in India are UTZ CERTIFIED!
- Pickwick committed to purchasing sustainable UTZ CERTIFIED tea.
- Code of Conduct workshops held in Kenya & Argentina.
2010
- Start-up of UTZ CERTIFIED Rooibos program.
- Launch traceability system for tea.
- Roll out of program in origins such as Southern Africa, Kenya, Argentina, China and Sri Lanka. The amount of certified estates in Indonesia, Malawi and India will be increased.
Certified Producers
UTZ CERTIFIED producers comply with the Code of Conduct covering good agricultural practices, social and environmental criteria. Their compliance is checked yearly by an independent ISO 65 accredited certification body. Click here to find the code of conduct for tea farms and factories.
Malawi
Eastern Produce Malawi Limited
Eastern Produce Malawi Limited is Malawi largest tea producer accounting for approximately 38 percent of Malawi's total tea output.
Eastern Produce Malawi has for many years been committed to "doing business in an ethical manner by ensuring that environmental and social concerns are addressed in order to ensure sustainability". Corporate Social Responsibility profile of the company is noteworthy; it holds a CSR Office returning a percentage of its annual profits to community projects.
Eastern Produce Malawi is a signatory to a number of international agreements and declarations and places a high value in developing company policies in areas such as environment, ethics, health, labor rights, human resources management etc.
Nchima
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Its tropical location and superior cultivar plant varieties produce excellent quality teas that are unusually high in health promoting anti oxidants. UTZ CERTIFIED's Code of Conduct has benefited Nchima's operation in various areas like health and safety, environmental management, energy use efficiency ,social welfare and improved market access.
The total certified area is 1,284 Ha.
Satemwa
Satemwa Tea Estate is located on the slopes of beautiful Thyolo Mountain with views of rolling tea gardens and the Mulanje Mountain in the distance.
"We were overwhelmed and thrilled to learn that we have achieved UTZ certification, because alone that means a potential market opportunity.
The certicification means that Satemwa is among the very few tea producers in the world who have demonstrated adherence to world class standards such as the UTZ CERTIFIED Code of Conduct.
This is also an indication that Satemwa follows best and ethical practices in its business processes thereby making it stand out from normal tea producers." F W Mandala, Human Resources Manager
The total certified area is 890ha
Indonesia
PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII (Persero)
The Indonesian group PTPN8 is the first tea producer worldwide to receive UTZ certification. It is a multi-site certification against the draft version 0.5 of the UTZ Code of Conduct. The total certified area is 2,120 ha.
India
Wayanad Agro Movement Tea Co. Ltd.
(WAM Tea) is a group of 426 small scale producers located in Kerala, India, who produce tea on a total of 275 hectare of tea gardens.
The small scale producers are located in Karimani, in the Wayanad district in the state of Kerala, in different small villages around the central factory. Their tea is sold on the auction and locally marketed under the brand Pushpagiri Tea; sales profits are paid directly to the producers and re-invested in the tea gardens.
Brands
Program Partners
Outlook
Interest from retailers and industry is very strong and growing. The first UTZ CERTIFIED tea products will hit the shelves this year. In 2010 the emphasis will be on finding a good balance between supply and demand.
Sustainability, Training & Professionalism as drivers for change
The UTZ CERTIFIED Tea Program is set up to structurally benefit producers, people working on larger tea estates and their environment. This means that the focus is on capacity building in origin and training of farmers. In this way farmers improve their productivity and quality which is rewarded by the market, known as 'a better price for a better product' principle.
In order to build up supply and demand, early movers are allowed to use the UTZ CERTIFIED label from 30% content onwards. This is a unique opportunity to involve your consumers in your journey to sustainability! For more information, please contact UTZ CERTIFIED at info @ utzcertified.org
Interested?
Are you somehow involved in the tea sector and interested in participating in or contributing to the program? Or would you like to receive more information?
Please contact Imke van Gasselt, Program Manager Tea at Imke.van.Gasselt @ utzcertified.org
