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Sustainability code of Indian tea industry Trustea launched in Kolkata
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Tuesday, 16 July, 2013, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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fiogf49gjkf0d The Indian tea industry's sustainability code – named Trustea – was launched in Kolkata. It is being developed in partnership with IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative, Solidaridad and the Rainforest Alliance, with the support of Hindustan Unilever Limited and Tata Global Beverages.
The event was attended by M G V K Bhanu, chairman, Tea Board of India; Shatadru Chattopadhyay, director, Solodaridad, South-east Asia; Joost Oorthuizen, chief executive officer, IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative; Vikram Agarwal, vice-president, tea procurement and supply chain services, Unilever; Geetu Verma, executive director, foods, Hindustan Unilever Ltd; Ajoy Misra, executive director and deputy chief executive officer, Tata Global Beverages, and Richard Fairburn, IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative.
Chattopadhyay said, “The need of the hour, therefore, is to face these challenges effectively and sustain this magnificent industry, which provides livelihood to millions of the people and wonderful flavours of tea to consumers.”
However, the adoption level of sustainable production standards across all segments of the industry is yet to reach the optimum level.
Bhanu said, “Tea Board is, therefore, focussing on developing a sustainable tea code based on Indian realities and globally accepted sustainability principles to reach out to the those segments of the industry.”
He also added, “It is because of our forefathers, who practiced sustainability, that we are able to enjoy the flora and fauna of the present world. Thus we should also strive to sustainably develop the world so that our future generations also get to enjoy it.”
Tea Board is of the view that effective implementation of the code will enable the tea industry in facing effectively the sustainability challenges; safeguard the plantation environment, welfare of all stakeholders and long-term security of supply. These challenges are to be addressed with a sense of urgency.
Trustea code
The code encompasses all aspects of tea production and seeks to embrace sustainability principles to boost productivity, maintain safety standards to improve quality compliance, and include all stakeholders in the mainstream.
The Trustea code, upon full-scale adoption by the Indian tea industry, would lead to the production of certified safe and hygienic teas – safer, healthier and more environmentally-friendly teas.
The programme would gear the industry up to face future consumer and customer demands, safeguard the competitiveness of the Indian tea industry, maintaining improved relationships and loyalty in the supply chain and other stakeholders, long-term security of supply for the Indian tea market, healthier plantations, workers and the environment, international recognition of sustainable tea practices in India.
The code is bound to improve the social and economic conditions of the tea industry and give an assurance to consumers that they are getting a safe and good cup of tea. Thus, securing long-term sustainability of the India tea industry will significantly benefit all its stakeholders.
It is still in its pilot phase and will be tested in a range of geographic locations within India and on different farm and plantation sizes. During the pilot phase, the Trustea logo will not be used on consumer packaging.
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