Sustainability has created the new benchmark for redefining business success, according to Australian premium tea brand, T2, with the global brand releasing its Sustainability Report that highlights the brand’s ongoing commitment to ethical and responsible business practices over the past year.

The second annual report has tracked its significant progress achieving new sustainability objectives that have made a positive impact across its team, suppliers, and community. Since committing to its sustainability transformation journey, the company has reached significant milestones including:

  • As of July, 100% of all teawares are ethically sourced, according to strict SMETA or BSCI auditing standards
  • By the start of 2020, 60% of all tea (Camellia Sinensis) was sustainably sourced, which is up from 36% in 2018. 100% of all tea will be sustainably sourced by end 2020;
  • Reduced carbon emissions by 8.2% in 2019, of which 100% was offset; and
  • Diverted over 250 tonnes of waste from landfill annually through the use of recyclable bags and compostable materials and this continues to be a focus through reduction of use of bags and packaging in 2020.

The release of the Sustainability Report comes just months after T2’s announcement of its B Corp accreditation achieved in 2019.

“Retailers and customers alike are looking for brands doing the right thing. We’ve had to reconsider what it means to be a brand redefining success in business, and that required a complete overhaul of our operations to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy, that benefits people and planet first,” T2 managing director, Derek Muirhead said.

This last year has seen T2 invest in sustainability, from introducing compostable and recyclable packaging and consumables, to formally measuring carbon footprints to better identify reduction opportunities and set focused targets.

In March this year, T2 opened the doors to its Green eco concept store in Bondi, Sydney. Its Green Star Design Review’s 5-star rating means that the new retail space represents “Australian Excellence” in environmentally sustainable building practices.

“Since 2017, T2 has continued to evolve plans to revolutionise the way we do business, ensuring we are as sustainable and environmentally friendly as can be for all communities,” T2 global brand director, Amy Smith said.

The business has worked to improve the supply chain of the tea industry globally, sourcing from suppliers that treat workers fairly, supporting communities and switching to sustainably sourced blends. T2 has quickly grown this from less than 2% to 38% sustainably sourced Camellia Sinensis in 2018, to 60% in 2019, and on track to 100% by the end of 2020.

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