Even though there are thousands of varieties, all tea is made from the evergreen Camellia Sinensis bush. White tea, green tea, oolong and black tea are all harvested from this species, but processed differently to attain different levels of oxidation. In the wild, a tea plant will grow into a tree of up to 50 feet, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking. Tea is the second most popular drink of the world, after water. It is grown in over fifty countries, particularly in China, India, Kenya and Sri Lanka which account for 74% of the worldwide tea production.

Why an UTZ CERTIFIED program for tea?

The tea sector serves millions of consumers worldwide and employs hundreds of thousands of workers. Today, the sector faces some severe challenges such as habitat conversion and soil erosion, improper use of chemicals, low farmer income and poor labor practices. As the need for sustainably grown products increases, companies and brands are searching for ways to credibly show their commitment to sustainability.
UTZ CERTIFIED is working towards making the tea sector sustainable. The Code of Conduct for Tea was developed in thorough consultation with local and global experts and stakeholders, including farmers, local tea experts, government officials, NGOs, traders and tea packers to ensure that the needs of both producers and markets are met.

UTZ CERTIFIED and Rooibos

UTZ CERTIFIED is proud to be a first mover in developing a specific Code of Conduct for rooibos production.

Rooibos literally means 'red bush' and comes from the Western Cape province of South Africa, which enjoys a very large and unique biodiversity. Rooibos bushes are very different from tea bushes, with very fine leaves similar to pine needles. 95% of all Rooibos is produced on large farms or plantations, which can have a large impact on the ecosystem as large areas are often cleared for their establishment.

In collaboration with the Right Rooibos initiative and other partners, our objective is to establish an internationally accepted, practical and credible standard for mainstream sustainable Rooibos production. By working together with local stakeholders to finalize this program, UTZ CERTIFIED can offer Rooibos buyers worldwide the opportunity to contribute to the sustainability and long term preservation of Rooibos farmers and their unique region.

Outlook

Interest from retailers and industry is strong and growing; more and more companies share our sustainability vision and have joined the tea program in 2010. Our emphasis will be on finding a good equilibrium between supply and demand to keep a quality– price balance that benefits the industry and the consumer.

Choose UTZ CERTIFIED products

What can you do to contribute? Look for the UTZ CERTIFIED label when choosing your tea and rooibos and demand that they are produced in a sustainable way. Because this is how we – together with you – can make a difference!