Suki Tea invests £500k in ‘eco-friendly’ new headquarters

The new purpose-built ‘tea factory’ is powered by 100% renewable energy sources and has allowed the manufacturer to reduce is Scope 2 emissions down to zero, superseding its environmental target to reduce the business’ emissions by 50% by 2030.

Suki expects to increase production capacity by 600% over the next decade, creating employment in many areas of the business as it pursues continued market expansion. As part of the investment, the manufacturer has also offered employees additional specialised training and development opportunities.

Eliminating Scope 2 emissions

Commenting on the investment, Suki Tea co-founder Annie Irwin said: “In 2019, we set ourselves a number of environmental targets and we’re thrilled to say that moving to our new Tea Factory this spring has brought us another step closer to achieving these by eliminating our Scope 2 emissions 7 years ahead of schedule. ​

“The new move is an important step in our commitment to sustainability and the environment, and we are proud to be leading the way in the tea industry.​

“As we celebrate our 18th year in business, this new premises is a fantastic opportunity for SUKI to continue to grow. Moving from three business units to one purpose-built factory allows us to make our production processes and logistics more efficient, expand our product offering and create new jobs.”​

Energy saving features

The new facility was built in collaboration with a team of sustainability and heating experts from Invest Northern Ireland. The site features 10kW Solar PV system, LED sensor lighting and PIR controls installed throughout, large windows for maximised use of daylight and recycling of key waste streams.

“Our mission has always been to create a community of loose-leaf tea drinkers across the globe, and we’re pleased that with continued investment into our facilities, our equipment, and our team, we can remain at the forefront of the loose-leaf tea industry in the UK, Ireland and around the world,” ​Irwin added.

Meanwhile, last month, independent cheese producer Wyke Farms invested £10m in a new butter dairy facility​​ as it targets the rapidly growing market for premium butter products.