Our network

About

ALDI Nord is a German multinational family-owned discount supermarket chain operating 5,300 stores in 8 European countries, namely Germany, Poland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.

ALDI Nord was one of the companies that financially supported the publication of ‘Consent…’, a briefing paper by THIRST and Women Working Worldwide on the risk factors for gender based violence and harassment in the tea sector.

At AMBA, our mission is to maximise incomes for communities working in the tea sector, and we are keen for others to adopt our model – so we love working with THIRST to spread the message and share ideas with other innovative players in the tea industry.

Simon Nihal Bell
Co-Founder/AMBA Estate and Ceylon Artisan Tea Association

About

Amba Estate is an organic farm, guest-house and social enterprise in the Uva Highlands of Sri Lanka, specialising in tea. Amba’s primary mission is to maximise local employment and incomes, while preserving the natural environment. It does so by showing local farmers and craftsmen how they can develop their own value-added products and experiences and selling these direct to international consumers (rather than just selling low-value raw materials to large processors and wholesalers).

The research papers resources pulled together by THIRST and resources found on their website have been so helpful for my own learning as Head of legal, human rights and sustainability at an international tea company. Many of my colleagues in sourcing countries also refer to the website for updates and analysis which they have found incredibly helpful too.

Zahra Afshar
Head of Legal, Human Rights and Sustainability. Ahmad Tea.

About

Ahmad Tea is a UK-based, family-owned company retailing mainly in the Middle East and Russia. The company sources its tea from Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, China and processes and packs it at its facilities in the UAE and Russia. It specialises in trading in higher quality “everyday” tea sold mainly through supermarkets, airports and, in the UK, through independent stores. Ahmad Tea views its tea growers as a natural extension of the Ahmad Tea family. It donates around a fifth of its profits to providing food, healthcare, education and access to drinking water around the world.

THIRST has been a major actor in the space of SGBVH, providing real-time and firsthand information, which has brought a clear in-depth understanding of the root cause as well as the extent and nature of the salient risks.  The research undertaken further provides worker led solutions to the salient risks, this provides an opportunity to address the causes while empowering the workers to chart and vision the future they desire.

Janet Ruto
Head of Welfare, Gender and Human Rights Browns Plantation Kenya

About

Browns Investments PLC, a Sri Lankan conglomerate that recently acquired Lipton Tea Estate and James Finlay (Kenya) Limited, is a highly successful diversified conglomerate and part of the LOLC Holdings PLC group of companies which is one of the largest and most profitable listed corporations in Sri Lanka.

Browns, headquartered in Sri Lanka has a proud heritage in operating plantation businesses owning Maturata Plantations, Hapugastenne Plantations PLC, and Udapussellawa Plantations PLC consisting of 49 individual estates that stretch across an area of over 30,000 hectares and employs over 10,000 individuals.

As a knowledge and action platform, THIRST has published numerous insightful reports on critical issues within the tea sector. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with THIRST, enabling a rich exchange of insights between the English-speaking and French-speaking worlds on the tea industry’s challenges and actions, and raising public awareness in the process.

Yun Zhang
Chargée de projet filière thé, Commerce Équitable France

About

Commerce Équitable France, founded in 1997, is a collective of French fair trade actors dedicated to promoting fair trade both within France and internationally, while supporting the ecological and social transformation of production and consumption patterns.

“As one of ETI’s NGO members THIRST provides expertise on labour rights and offer experience of diverse communities around the world. As a member we can directly influence business, both one-on-one and collectively, by sharing knowledge and guiding continuous improvement on human rights – all with the aim of improving the lives of workers worldwide. ”  THIRST

About

ETI is a leading alliance of trade unions, NGOs and businesses, working together with key stakeholders to promote practical solutions to end the abuse of human rights at work.

THIRST has emerged as a prominent platform for discussions on business & human rights in the tea industry. Their human rights impact analysis of the industry has been excellent, and so was their investigation into the risk factors for gender-based violence in the tea sectors. Fully aware of its neutrality, Fairtrade International has supported THIRST over the years and calls on other stakeholders to do the same.

Wilbert Flinterman
Industrial relations and human rights in global supply chains, Fairtrade International

About

Fairtrade works with farmers and workers in more than 1,900 producer organisations, across 68 countries, so they can improve their living standards, invest in their communities and businesses, and protect our shared environment.

THIRST brings you to the realisation that you are part of global initiatives that defend human rights and ecological principle in the tea industry, in particular, strengthening new organisational models and building value chain alternatives keeping the interest of small tea growers in mind.

J John
Managing Director, Grassroots Tea Corporation

About

Established in 2017, Grassroots Tea Corporation brought together several hundred indigenous farmers in Assam. Together, they have set up a producer company with their own mini tea processing factories, they manufacture chemical-free, high quality orthodox and green tea, following the principles of regenerative agriculture. The tea is sold in the market under the brandname Equifarm Tea through multiple channels; auction, direct sales to bulk buyers, e-commerce to retailers as well as direct to consumers.

“The International Dalit Solidarity Network welcomes THIRST’s knowledge hub, which  brings together all the resources regarding the condition of workers in the tea industry across the globe. From extremely poor working conditions to sexual and gender-based harassment, THIRST shines a light on these abuses and gives business some of the tools they need to address them. We should all be mindful of what makes up the tea we drink!”

Meena Verma
Executive Director, International Dalit Solidarity Network

About

IDSN is a network of international human rights groups, development agencies, national Dalit solidarity networks from Europe, and national platforms in caste-affected countries. The network has had a significant impact on the internationalisation of caste discrimination as a critical human rights issue.

As a social enterprise, we often seek cases of similar companies that are working on social justice in the tea sector, to learn from one another and refine our practices. THIRST has been an excellent platform to learn as well as contribute our experience.

Tahira Nizari
Co-Founder & CEO, Kazi Yetu Ltd

About

Kazi Yetu was founded to change the way products are made and traded between Africa and the rest of the world. Commodities that are exported from Africa are mostly processed and packaged abroad, minimizing economic gain in the country of origin. To address this, Tahira and Hendrik founded Kazi Yetu in 2018 with a focus on products made 100% in East Africa to promote job creation for women and more equitable pay for farmers. 

About

A group of individuals providing funding for progressive social change. The recipients of Network for Social Change grants are diverse but broadly fit into what we call “progressive social change”.

Network for Social Change provided the funds that made this website possible and also supported key elements of our Human Rights Impact Assessment of the Global Tea Sector

Grounded in research, THIRST is an essential network bringing together workers, civil society and the industry for considered action on the business and human rights concerns prevalent in the global tea sector.

Sloane Hamilton
Policy Advisor / Oxfam GB

About

Oxfam GB is an international NGO based in the UK. It is part of Oxfam International, a global confederation that includes 22 member organizations, or affiliates. Its objects are to prevent and relieve poverty and protect the vulnerable anywhere in the world through humanitarian relief, development work and advocacy and campaigning. Oxfam describes itself as “a global community of people who believe in a kinder, and radically better world, where everyone has the power to thrive not just survive.”

We have been following the work of THIRST for quite some time now – it is a fountain of knowledge regarding the tea sector across the world. The multi-stakeholder approach encompasses different perspectives with one common goal: to make tea industry fair and sustainable. When we wanted to analyse the risk of human rights violations in our supply chain, THIRST was the first to come to our mind. The detailed report enables us to take the next steps on our journey.

Thomas Raeuchle-Gehrig and Dr. Kathrin Gassert
Head of Project and Head of Business Development & Communication, Teekampagne

About

Teekampagne (which has its headquarters in Potsdam, Germany, and can roughly be translated into English as ‘Tea Campaign’) is the largest mail order tea business in Germany and the world’s largest importer of Darjeeling loose leaf tea.

THIRST’s insights into the tea sector in different parts of the world have been very helpful, especially since we both share a vision of a fair and sustainable tea industry that protects and supports tea communities. THIRST’s resources and information allow us to better grasp the situation and challenges faced by tea workers and help us to tailor our efforts in the tea sector more effectively.

Ellen Schliebitz,
Vice President of Communications, The Centre for Child Rights and Business

About

The Centre for Child Rights and Business helps companies navigate child rights, ESG, and human rights due diligence, ensuring compliance with the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and other key HRDD frameworks. Our work enables businesses to strengthen their supply chains while delivering meaningful, lasting improvements for children, youth and families. 

Thank you, THIRST, for your invaluable support in our mission to hold individuals and companies accountable for sexual and gender-based violations and ensure timely justice for survivors, especially in our efforts to challenge sexual exploitation and abuse/harassment in the Kenyan tea sector. Your rallying of international NGOs and tea companies to back our call to action on the Kenya Government and the justice actors to serve justice and support survivors has been crucial in expediting the progress. We truly appreciate the external and in-country pressure you provide, which helps to keep the spotlight on this critical issue.

Lady Dr Wangu Kanja
Founder, Wangu Kanja Foundation

About

Wangu Kanja Foundation (WKF) is an experienced-informed and survivor led feminist non-profit national organization.  It focuses on addressing sexual violence with regards to prevention, protection and response. At the core of WKF’s work is addressing the needs of survivors of sexual violence in Kenya and beyond by engaging in holistic interventions with an aim of restoring their dignity and that of their families and friends. WKF is the Convenor of the Survivors of Sexual Violence in Kenya (SSVKenya) Network which brings together a unified movement of survivors to amplify their voices to address all forms of sexual violence across the country.

THIRST unites organisations calling for a fairer, more sustainable tea industry—and we are proud to stand alongside them. Our partnership continues to spark real change, on the ground and within companies, and we are excited to keep building a future where the rights of women workers are at the heart of the tea supply chain.

Caroline Downey
Executive Director, Women Working Worldwide

About

Women Working Worldwide’s vision is of a world where equality is a reality. Our core mission is to work in partnership with grassroots organisations around the world, to assist and empower women workers in global supply chains to claim their rights and gain decent wages for their work. We work with companies to advocate on behalf of women workers, and we advise companies on how to best to meet their commitments to gender equality and women’s rights across their supply chains.