Together with campaigners, celebrities, tea retailers and brands, and MPs, they delivered a petition and letter to the PM’s residence which set out several key asks.
This included the introduction of Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) legislation.
What is Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence?
In very basic terms, this mandates that companies manage potential risks and adverse impacts that businesses may cause to people and nature.
While the UK was the first country to adopt a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and to introduce the Modern Slavery Act (2015), Fairtrade contends there are “shortfalls” in its current commitments and legislative tools.
What would HREDD mean for industry?
Essentially, the law would mean more responsibility place on those in the tea supply chain, who would need to ensure a fairer, more resilient and safer conditions for growers.
Sophia Ostler, senior policy manager at the Fairtrade Foundation explains more: “Tea growers often earn wages far below a living income, leaving them unable to support their families or invest in sustainable farming, with many relying on inadequate in-kind benefits instead of fair pay.
“Working conditions are harsh and unsafe, involving long hours carrying heavy loads over difficult terrain, poor housing and sanitation, and exposure to agrochemicals without proper protection. Climate change is reducing suitable land for tea cultivation and creating unpredictable weather patterns, which threaten yields and push farmers into debt and insecurity.
“These combined challenges undermine livelihoods, health, and resilience across global tea supply chains. A Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence law, will make it mandatory for businesses to take steps to prevent these issues in the tea sector.”
Why now?
There is currently no HREDD legislation in the UK and while some choose to carry out their own due diligence, because it’s not mandatory it creates an uneven playing field.
But ‘haven’t we got enough regulation in place?’ I hear you cry.
It’s true - the industry is wound in a fortress of red tape - but Fairtrade assures HREDD is unique - and needed. This is because “it combines human rights and environmental due diligence” rather than just focusing on the latter solely.
Industry consultant Mark Field said the push for this new law is likely a result on heightened focus on supply chain transparency and ethics. As data and reporting has improved it’s led to more “visibility” and a deeper “understanding of many complex supply chains“ which has, subsequently, highlighting a need for more robust laws.
Given that the Government is currently undertaking a responsible business conduct review, Fairtrade says it sees now as a critical time to push for its introduction.
Tea making conditions dwindling
With Britain being a nation a tea drinkers, it’s particularly important that this sector reviews its operations, as Marie Rumsby, director of communications and advocacy at the Fairtrade Foundation highlights: “Britain drinks 100 million cups of tea every day, yet too little of that value reaches farmers, and many in Kenya earn less than enough to meet basic family needs.
“Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence legislation is urgently needed to end poverty and abuses in tea supply chains and build a fairer future for the people behind our national drink."
Rumsby was among the group who visited Number 10. Downing Street on Wednesday 10 December. She was joined by the likes of Bryan Martins, CEO at Ecotone UK which owns Clipper Teas – a founding Fairtrade organisation; Andy Hickman, head of human rights at Sainsbury’s; and Martin Rhodes MP, chair of the Fairtrade All Party Parliamentary Group, among others, to hand over the petition.
This petition has now received more than 21,900 signatures and gather the support of 80+ MPs.
At the same time, the Fairtrade campaigners presented an open letter to No.10 from more than 250 tea farmers and workers in Kenya, which urges UK businesses and policymakers to protect human rights and support them to deal with ever-harsher climate conditions. In Kenya - where most UK tea is sourced - ideal growing conditions for tea are set to decline by a quarter by 2050.
The delivery of these documents marks the conclusion of the first year of Fairtrade’s ‘Brew it Fair’ campaign – which was launched earlier this year with an aim of ensuring the UK’s tea industry is rooted in fairness, sustainability and respect for the people who make it possible.
