Tetley Tea announced that in an effort to foster close communication between the consumer and direct tea producers, it launches an online campaign on Facebook that will raise the consumer awareness of the living and working conditions of tea producers from the developing countries.

Image: www.tetley.co.uk

By joining Farmer’s First Hand at www.facebook.com/Farmersfirsthand, Facebook users may meet tea-growers personally, see their photos and learn more about their life.

All of the tea suppliers that partner with Tetley are now working towards being Rainforest Alliance (RA) certified, i.e. they seek global recognition as sustainable communities.

Rainforest Alliance certification was established by Tetley in 2010 with the aim of encouraging tea producers to build their business on the principles of sustainability giving much thought to environmental conservation.

The first tea community to be involved in the initiative comes from Malawi. With time, the project initiators plan to expand the initiative to other countries.

According to www.brandrepublic.com, Lucy Denny, global marketing manager for the Tetley brand, said: «We want Tetley tea drinkers to enjoy their favourite cuppa, knowing that by choosing it, they have helped to protect the environment on tea estates and provide sustainable livelihoods for the people there.»