At Team Tea, we are deeply committed to treading lightly on our planet and upholding the highest standards of environmental responsibility. Sustainability is not just a principle for us—it's a continuous journey of improvement and dedication.
Here’s how we’re making a difference today:
💚 No Teabags, Only Loose-Leaf
We choose loose-leaf tea over teabags to reduce unnecessary manufacturing and materials, and to avoid plastics often found in teabags.
💚 Eco-Friendly Packaging
Our tea packaging is designed with the environment in mind. Our metal tins are not only durable and reusable but also fully recyclable. Our refill pouches are home compostable, ensuring that once you’re done, they leave no waste behind.
💚 Thoughtful Labels
We use uncoated paper for our labels, which supports the recycling and composting process without interfering with these systems.
💚 Sustainable Shipping
Our shipping materials are made from recycled paper, and for every order we place, our supplier plants a tree. We use paper packing tape and eco-flo packaging fill, which is plant-based, biodegradable, and water-soluble if composting isn’t an option.
💚 Recycled Promotional Materials
All our printed materials, including postcards and leaflets, are produced on recycled paper. Our envelopes and tissue paper are also sourced from recycled materials provided by @ecocraft_ltd.
💚 Compostable Event Supplies
At our events, we use compostable tasting cups from @vegware and have installed compost bins on-site to manage our cups and waste tea leaves responsibly.
💚 Ethical Sourcing
We believe that true sustainability extends beyond our own practices. That’s why all of our tea is sourced from importers who are members of the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP). The ETP is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting a thriving, socially just, and environmentally sustainable tea sector. By partnering with ETP members, we ensure that our tea is not only high-quality but also produced under fair working conditions and with respect for environmental stewardship.
💚 Eco-Friendly Operations
Behind the scenes, we use Vegware plant-based biodegradable gloves for packing, unbleached paper rolls made from recycled fibres for cleaning, and bulk cleaning products from @delphiseco, minimising waste. For dishwashing, we rely on compostable sponges made from wood fibre by @ecovibeuk.
💚 Reducing Fossil Fuel Reliance
We are actively working to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels through several initiatives:
- Ground Source Heating: Utilising the earth’s natural energy to heat our facilities and water more efficiently without gas.
- Solar Panels: Harnessing the power of the sun to generate clean, renewable energy for our operations.
- Electric Vehicles: Transitioning to electric vehicles to lower our carbon emissions.
- Renewable Energy Supplier: Buying our electricity from GOOD Energy, which provides us with 100% renewable energy.
💚 Continuous Improvement and Learning
We are always striving to do more, and we are committed to improving our sustainability practices. To formalise our efforts, we are participating in a small business sustainability course. This will help us identify areas for enhancement through an initial assessment and develop a comprehensive action plan.
We are committed to transparency and will share our progress openly. For instance, we’ve already identified the need to switch to a green bank and to make our website more accessible. These steps are just the beginning as we continue to evolve and refine our practices.
Thank you for supporting us in this mission. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and drive positive change for a sustainable future.
Warm regards,
Valerie
Founder, Team Tea