TWG Tea Company Pte Ltd

A love and appreciation of nature has always been at the heart of TWG Tea’s raison d’être. Each of our teas is an ode to exceptional climates, terrains and craftsmanship, while our exclusive blends unite the beauty of flowers, fruits and spices into your teacup. Nature is omnipresent in the names of our teas and in the design of our packaging.

Since TWG Tea’s inception in 2008, the brand’s philosophy has been deeply rooted in sustainable development with the mission to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the same quality teas we do today.

Our long-term vision is modelled after the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework that is increasingly considered a holistic benchmark for sustainable business practices.

We believe that we can play our part in contributing towards a sustainable future by focusing on three pillars of sustainability – Craft, Community and Commitment.

Product Development and Partnerships

Sustainability begins with our tea planters and craftsmen and the exceptional products they produce. Prioritising good design, quality and durability when conceptualizing our teas and accessories reduces pressure on natural resources during the production process. A case in point, TWG Tea’s accessories are designed to stand the test of time, and their unique designs are modern in their practicality yet classic in their aesthetic. They are made of natural materials and crafted to last for generations.

Our long-term commitment to responsible tea planting has led to the establishment of dedicated TWG Tea gardens on the estates of iconic partners. TWG Tea also supports reforestation programmes through our tea partners. In Rwanda, our partner tea estate planted over 157,000 trees in 2020 alone as part of their reforestation efforts.

We are also investing in the development of sustainable product alternatives. For example, in 2008, TWG Tea designed its own proprietary, commercially compostable, 100% biodegradable tea bag. They are crafted from only 100% cotton and thread, without the use of glue or staples.

Sustainable supply chain management strategies also play a big part in TWG Tea’s sustainability efforts. TWG Tea sources directly from 47 tea-producing regions in the world, including 10 of the largest tea producing countries include China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, Iran (Persia), and Argentina. We take care to locate our operations with consideration to reducing freight and keeping tea leaves fresh without going through multiple ports of shipment. TWG Tea’s strategic location in Singapore places it at the epicentre of source gardens around the world such as Darjeeling in India and Yunnan in China. Our teas are also hand blended and hand packaged in Singapore.

Sustainability considerations in our Tea Salons & Boutiques

TWG Tea currently has 70 Tea Salons & Boutiques in 17 countries. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) in all Tea Salons & Boutiques are applied across the globe to contribute towards our efforts to operate sustainably. Water conservation is practised in all TWG Tea Salons. We have designed proprietary water dispensers for our premises which automatically turn the water spout off when it is not in use, greatly minimising water wastage. This helps us to conserve approximately 5,800,000 litres of water — equivalent to two Olympic sized swimming pools — each year.

Understanding the customer and designing solutions that are purpose built is the core to human centered design

We are also committed to reducing single-use disposable items. In our Tea Salons worldwide, teas are prepared using reusable cotton tea filters. By preparing pots of tea using loose leaf teas and reusable cotton tea filters, we avoid using 80 million teabags globally each year. TWG Tea has also eliminated the use of plastic straws in Tea Salons. We serve our iced teas with reusable glass straws upon request.

Customers are encouraged to return to Tea Boutiques to refill their existing tea tins from the loose tea counter. This encourages the re-use of tins and reduces demand for less biodegradable packaging.

Rise of ECommerce

In 2020, TWG Tea saw growth in every market we have an online presence in. Furthermore, we have noticed that this new online shopping trend is remaining consistent even in instances when social distancing measures are lifted, proving that consumer behaviour has evolved. As the brand grows in this area, it is important for us to ensure that we put sustainable practices in place so that we maintain long term growth.

A 6-figure sum was invested in an eCommerce warehouse and fulfilment centre located in central Singapore, adopting responsible eCommerce back-end logistics practices. We avoid using packing materials unnecessarily when delivering eCommerce purchases, and have created customised 100% recycled carton boxes to protect our products while reducing the need for additional cushioning inside the box. Reducing the extra volumetric weight of packing materials also potentially reduces our carbon footprint. Furthermore, we are moving away from the use of plastic when packing our products — only with the exception of our most fragile tea accessories.

Conclusion

TWG Tea believes that aligning the interests of business and society as much as possible is better for business in the long term. In formalising and sustaining its commitment to responsible corporate governance, TWG Tea has appointed an internal ESG team to help identify more ways for the brand to extend its commitment to contributing towards a sustainable future. TWG Tea will continue to develop new ways to expand or scale up its business while operating responsibly.