values and sustainability

From the way we source our tea, to how it’s packed, and the impact it has on the planet and the communities who grow it – we want Yorkshire Tea to make a proper difference in the world. You can find out more about our work to put sustainability at the heart of everything we do at Taylors Impact.

Our Approach

We’ve never compromised on flavour or quality, and our business is still family-owned today. Even though we’re a little bigger today than we were in 1886, our independent values haven’t changed. We believe that the way we source our tea is as important as the tea itself. And we’re still completely, utterly devoted to the art of a proper brew.

That means:

Trading and sourcing our tea in line with the Taylors Sourcing Approach
Building strong long-term relationships with our key suppliers who share our values of quality and flavour
Investing in our supply chain and the communities within it

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RAINFOREST ALLIANCE

All Yorkshire Tea teabags, loose leaf tea and Iced Tea are Rainforest Alliance Certified™, grown and harvested on farms and forests that follow their sustainable practices. This certification encompasses all three pillars of sustainability — social, economic, and environmental.

ETHICAL TEA PARTNERSHIP

We’re also members of ETP (formerly known as the Ethical Tea Partnership) – with them we are able to partner with our suppliers and other tea companies to develop and support initiatives at community level as well as responding to major social and environmental challenges that the tea industry still faces.

core standards

Look on the side of any Yorkshire Tea black tea or green tea pack and you will see the Rainforest Alliance frog. This certification means we are committed to the following core standards that you can find out about on their website.

find out more

supplier relationships

Taylors Sourcing Approach (TSA) is our unique and integrated approach to working in our tea supply chain. It includes:

Multi-year sourcing agreements, which give suppliers confidence to invest in their businesses.
Investing in programmes that improve productivity, efficiency and livelihoods,
Championing environmental stewardship and working with suppliers to identify the most relevant environmental priorities for their business.
Helping to create safe, resilient communities in our supply chain, where people are informed, empowered and able to claim their rights.

Launched in 2013, we’re proud of the partnerships TSA has built and the positive difference it’s made. But the Tea sector is complex and has many challenges, and we know we need to build on these foundations to deliver more impact for the future.

value chain investment

Every year we invest into VCI (Value Chain Investment) projects to improve the livelihoods of people in the communities we buy from. Through this we support a wide range of projects and partnerships that tackle social, environmental and economic challenges - from community projects directly with suppliers to large-scale programmes with NGOs and industry partners. In 2025 we invested £1.4M, supporting over 60 projects across 19 different countries.

environmental footprint

Climate change is already affecting the communities that grow our tea and coffee. At the same time, agriculture has an important role to play in reducing global emissions.

We believe progress comes through partnership, that’s why we work closely with suppliers to understand challenges and drive meaningful action, including:

Monitoring emissions, water and biodiversity impacts
Working with suppliers to prioritise the environmental issues that matter most to them
Investing in programmes that support regenerative agriculture, tree planting, water stewardship and climate resilience.
Collaborating with expert partners to build knowledge and share learning with our growers and suppliers