Our sustainability Story
At FTM we believe that the wellbeing of communities who produce our tea ought to be at the forefront of our approach to transacting business.
Whilst we offer Rainforest Alliance and Organic certified tea, we believe that much more needs to be done to support a genuinely sustainable industry at origin.
Brewing a Better Future
Driving value
back upstream
We think that the tea producer’s right to a living wage or living income is the cornerstone of achieving broader sustainability within our supply chains. We therefore prioritise any activities that drive value back up the supply chain where that can happen without an impact on customer satisfaction. Activities involved in this, such as blending and packing at origin can provide additional employment and wealth to producing communities.
Avoiding
“Ethical Colonialism”
Putting Producers First, Not Paperwork
At Fine Tea Merchants, we believe that sustainability should serve the people at origin, not just corporate image.
Rather than shaping our practices around what looks good on paper, we build policies based on direct dialogue with producers, regular visits, and input from NGOs.
We're guided by the principle that living wages for plantation workers and living incomes for smallholders are the foundation of real progress. Many of the most pressing challenges at origin are rooted in economic insecurity, and that’s where our focus lies.
We don’t craft one-off “sustainability statements” to win tenders. We focus on long-term, respectful collaboration that puts origin communities at the heart of every decision.
Origin community
initiatives
In parts of Malawi, deforestation is an ongoing challenge, often linked to poverty and the demand for charcoal fuel. This impacts local ecosystems and even disrupts rainfall, making tea production harder for smallholder farmers.
To help address this, we support the Satemwa Tree Planting Club, which promotes biodiversity and sustainable farming through reforestation.
Recent efforts include planting a mix of fruit trees, fast-growing species like bamboo and eucalyptus, and native hardwoods - all aimed at restoring landscapes and creating long-term income opportunities.
Supporting smarter,
sustainable growing
We believe tea should be grown with purpose, not excess. That’s why we support producers working to diversify beyond low-value tea, like Satemwa’s work with hibiscus and peppermint.
We also champion heritage regions like Darjeeling, whose future depends on quality-focused cultivation but with prices generally below cost of production during the monsoon period. We offer a high quality green tea from Darjeeling produced during the rains for which we can pay a better price in order to provide producers an alternative to under-priced black tea production while preserving the region’s iconic tea heritage.
Reducing our carbon footprint
At Fine Tea Merchants, we’ve made it our mission to tread more lightly. From installing solar panels on our Lincolnshire warehouse to optimising our delivery routes, we’re reducing our environmental impact step by step.
Our emissions have more than halved since 2023 - a major milestone we’re proud of, with more progress on the way.
Local community
initiatives
We support local causes where we believe a cup of tea can make a positive difference.
Examples of this include our Slava Ukraini! Blend, our Royal Hospital Christmas Blend, support for Metheringham Airfield visitor centre, St Andrews Church Potterhanworth, and Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance.
Get in touch
Tel: +44 01522 794 293