Our positions

Many workers throughout the tea supply chain experience extreme poverty and do not earn enough to meet their basic needs, nor those of their families.

There are many complex factors that contribute to this, including the low price of tea, rising production costs, and business practices.

This paper outlines the Ethical Tea Partnership's position on living wages in the tea industry.

It describes some of the challenges faced when trying to achieve living wages in tea, and summarises our approach to driving progress in this area.

Whilst tea relies heavily on a female workforce, women farmers and workers face unique challenges that prevent them from participating equally in many areas of life. Young people in tea producing regions encounter many of the same problems as women, and often lack the agency to improve their situation.

This paper outlines the Ethical Tea Partnership's position on equal opportunities for women and young people in tea.

Find out more about the challenges facing women and young people in tea. You’ll also learn about our holistic approach to addressing systemic inequalities and supporting individual empowerment.

Gender norms and discriminatory attitudes globally result in the undervaluing of women and girls and their disempowerment in public and private life. This makes them especially vulnerable to violence and harassment in workplaces, communities, and households. Prevailing attitudes towards gender often normalise discrimination and prevent survivors from seeking remediation.

We work towards a tea industry that prioritises the safety and well-being of women and girls, where they are free from gender-based violence, respected, and empowered to report the issues they face without fear or stigmatisation.

This paper outlines ETP’s position on creating empowered, safe tea communities.

Find out more about the challenges contributing to violence and harassment in the tea industry, and our approach to catalysing change.

Climate change is already putting pressure on agricultural systems globally, with the most severe impacts being felt in the Global South, where tea is often produced. Farmers, workers, and communities who rely on tea for a living are especially vulnerable to its impacts.

Tea industry stakeholders must play their part in addressing the threat to livelihoods by supporting climate resilience practices and reducing vulnerability among tea growers, whilst also contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

This paper outlines ETP’s position on climate resilience in the tea industry.

Find out more about the challenges to achieving a climate resilient tea sector, and our approach to catalysing change.

The Global South, where tea is often produced, is facing the effects of climate change at an increasing rate, and if we fail to reduce emissions swiftly, these impacts will continue to worsen.

Our Strategy2030 is committed to working towards a tea industry that has minimal environmental impact. Net zero is one of three focus areas within our work on environmental sustainability, alongside climate-resilient agriculture and zero deforestation. Our aim is to support tea farmers and businesses in lowering their emissions and transitioning to more sustainable and efficient practices.

This paper outlines ETP’s position on net zero in the tea industry.

Find out more about some of the challenges to achieving net zero tea, and our approach to catalysing change.