A global alliance of tea-packing companies has expanded its ethical supply chain monitoring into Argentina and Brazil.
The London-based Ethical Tea Partnership, which checks workers’
conditions on tea estates, began looking at 17 Argentine and two
Brazilian tea estates last month, thus extending its auditing to nine
countries that together account for more than 65 per cent of all tea
exports. Though a relatively small tea producer, Argentina exports
about 50 million kilograms (110 million pounds) annually, mostly to the
US. Brazil produces about five million kgs.
By the middle of this year, the partnership also aims to have extended
its activities to some of the estates that supply its 18 corporate
members in southern India and to have ‘gained a foothold’ in China,
which accounts for about 18 per cent of world tea exports.
Executive director Gavin Bailey said: ‘We’re currently monitoring more
than 600 tea estates but we’re keen to cover the whole of our members’
supply base by 2008.’ The ETP uses independent monitors, including
PricewaterhouseCoopers, to examine performance in six key areas –
employment (including minimum age and wage levels), education,
maternity, health, safety and housing. Its 18 members, who produce more
than 50 brands of tea sold across 30 countries, include Accord Tea
Services, Metropolitan Tea, Tetley Group and R. Twining.
