EARTHDAY.ORG, the global organizer of Earth Day (April 22) and the largest recruiter of environmental movements worldwide, said the theme for Earth Day 2023 is “Invest in Our Planet,” and that’s what many in the tea industry are doing.
The 2023 theme is specifically focused on engaging governments, institutions, businesses and the more than one billion citizens who participate annually in Earth Day to do their part – everyone accounted for, everyone accountable.
Kathleen Rogers, president of EARTHDAY.ORG, said, “In 2023 we must come together again in partnership for the planet. Businesses, governments and civil society are equally responsible for taking action against the climate crisis and lighting the spark to accelerate change towards a green, prosperous and equitable future. We must join together in our fight for the green revolution, and for the health of future generations. The time is now to ‘Invest In Our Planet.’”
Yogi Tea
At Yogi Tea, they’re doing numerous things for Earth Day to promote environmental awareness and to honor the planet Earth. One that is particularly important to them is global cleanup. “In 2022, our YOGI Tea Team participated too and helped cleaning up different neighborhoods,” the company noted on its website. “For each YOGI Tea team member who participated, a tree was planted, reaching a number of 300 trees.”
This past year, Yogi Tea (which recently won a World Tea Best of Award for sustainability at World Tea Expo 2023) also committed to other key actions. In Germany, for example, they cooperated with the “Deutsche Wildtierstiftung”, to help wild bees in the environment. And in Italy, they raised awareness on various sustainability issues through a cleanup, educational sessions and fun activities with team members, including their “Let it grow” contest – a contest based on the ability to sprout seeds and grow a plant. The company also planted maple trees with the association Fustaja.
And on its website, Yogi Tea offers lots of ideas for its customer base, in terms of what they can do for Earth Day and all year round. “For us, sustainability counts every day,” the company noted. You can see their 2023 ideas here.
Tea Drunk
Tea Drunk is hosting a special Earth Day chat on the importance of terroir for specialty products. The online session will feature Shunan Teng, founder of Tea Drunk, and a panel of distinguished guests.
Panelists will include businesses that specialize in terroir-specific products, like tea, and they’ll dive into what terroir is and why the land on which a particular product grows affects its quality and value.
The special Earth Day talk will also look at climate-related issues each niche terroir faces, and how locals and companies are working towards sustainability for the land.
With panelists from across food and beverage, including a Sichuan peppercorn expert, a B-Corp purveyor of premium Italian foods, a top terroir tea producer, and a head winemaker of an organic wine company, it’ll be an informative session.
The free online event will take place Friday, April 21, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT. Details can be found here.
Arbor Teas
For Earth Day 2023, Arbor Teas is asking its customers if they have a favorite nonprofit that supports or works toward one of the themes of Earth Day, honoring the earth and promoting peace and environmentalism. And they’re inviting customers to submit an Earth Day related nonprofit for consideration for their annual Earth Day donation.
In 2021, Arbor Teas announced that the events of the COVID-19 pandemic caused them to reconsider their annual Earth Day Sale. Instead of celebrating Earth Day with a sale, they said they decided to shift their focus to supporting Earth Day with a donation. “We strongly feel this support is more in line with the original intention of Earth Day and our own focus on sustainability and dependable pricing,” they noted.
As a result, Arbor Teas said it will make a one-time donation equivalent to 15 percent of sales received on Earth Day 2023 (April 22 of the same year) to one of the best nonprofits that supports the ideas proposed by peace activist John McConnell for the first Earth Day in 1970 – to honor the Earth and promote peace and environmentalism.
In 2021, Arbor Teas donated US$3,500 to the non-profit EARTHDAY.ORG, whose mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.
Arbor Teas’ customer orders on April 22, 2022, made it possible to donate US$2,500 to support The Nature Conservancy, which conserves the lands and waters on which all life depends.
Adagio Tea
At Adagio Tea, they’re offering customers a free, environmentally-friendly tote bag and Earth Keeper tea tin with purchases totaling US$59 or more, in honor of Earth Day (while supples last).
Adagio noted that the tote bag is sturdy and durable, ideal to be reused over and over, instead of using plastic grocery bags. “Our canvas tote bags are a great way to carry just about anything, especially your tea collection,” the company noted.
Silver Tips
At Silver Tips, they’re encouraging customers to make Earth Day a part of their routines every day, by offering some tips and suggestions.
“Although Earth Day comes but once a year on April 22, it can be a part of our daily lives and inform many decisions,” noted Silver Tips.
The company also highlighted some of the many things they do on a regular basis at the office and at home (which might inspire others), including:
- Making a conscious effort to print on post-consumer recycled paper for flyers, newsletters, business cards and office needs.
- Saving all internal drafts and packing slips and re-using the paper for their copy and fax machines, and printing on the unused side.
- Purchasing and using biodegradable popcorn for packing their teas.
- Keeping their thermostats a few degrees warmer (or cooler) to conserve energy.
- Without exception, recycling plastic and glass wherever possible.
- Keeping reusable bags in cars to avoid adding to the already-growing piles of plastic filling landfills.
- Using glass or other reusable, washable plates and bowls for daily lunches and meals instead of plastic disposable items.
- Seeking causes that promote the Greening of the Earth. A few years ago, Silver tips chose One Tree Planted and invited customers to plant trees. Another year, they selected Friends of the Earth as a worthy cause.
- Offering organic teas because they promote soil health and reduce the use of chemical pesticides.
- Buying organic and being a dues-paying member of the Organic Trade Association, which advocates for a common cause.
Of course, these are just a few examples of the many things that tea companies are doing for Earth Day. Let it be inspiration for your business in 2024.
To learn more about the 2023 Earth Day theme, visit EarthDay.org/Earth-Day-2023.
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World Tea Conference + Expo, March 18-20, 2024
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