RFA Herbal Tea Partnership | Ethical Tea Production

Cultivation of relationships, land and plants.

At Red Seal we believe in the importance of working towards a more sustainable and ethical supply chain and this all starts with the cultivation of land, plants and relationships.

We use a range of incredible ingredients in our herbal blends, including the leaves, fruit, flowers, roots and bark of hundreds of different plants from all around the world. Herbal teas can be cultivated, as in the case of chamomile, or collected from wild sources, like rosehip or liquorice root.

By working with Rainforest Alliance, we’re helping to support some of the most pressing social and environmental issues of our time by changing the way the world produces and consumes. When you choose Red Seal products with Rainforest Alliance Certified ingredients, you are supporting the farmers who are looking after their workers and our natural resources.

Read on to learn more about the Rainforest Alliance and discover the journeys that some of our incredible ingredients like liquorice root and peppermint embark on from cultivation to cup.

Farmers and collectors pick, bag and deliver their ingredients

Thousands of farmers and collectors around the world cultivate and collect ingredients that go into the worlds herbal teas, each one with their own story.

Rainforest Alliance and our suppliers have programs in place to help ensure fair working conditions and better livelihoods for the people in these industries. These programs include working towards living wages for workers, gender equality, no child labour and better farming & living conditions.

Ingredients are dried and shipped to our experts for blending, taste testing and packing.

After the ingredients are collected and dried, they are sent to our experts to carefully blend together and create the flavours you know and love.

Careful quality control is used through the process to ensure the final product that reaches you is of the highest quality.

Your favourite teas, brews & blends are carefully packed and delivered to stores across Aotearoa.

Red Seal Tea, Brew and Blends carefully packed and delivered to stores in NZ and around the world

So you can shop, sip and enjoy your favourite brew, knowing that together, we are supporting a better world.

Sip and enjoy Red Seal Tea, Brew and Blends

Please dispose of our blends responsibly, here’s how.

Teabag & string

Our teabag filter paper and string are made of natural fibres, meaning they are plastic-free, biodegradable and compostable*. The time it takes for these materials to breakdown all depends on conditions, such as temperature, humidity, bacteria and how often your compost is turned.

Paper tag

Our tea bag tag is made of paper and does not contain plastic, but because it is printed, we are currently working with an independent certification body to validate the ink used is home compostable. So, for now please remove the tag before placing the string and bag in your compost.

Box

Your cardboard box can easily be flattened and popped into your curbside recycling bin.

*Note we're in the process of obtaining official compostable certification, and will update our communications once this has been confirmed.

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Steps towards sustainability

At Red Seal we believe you can make products that taste great and be kind to the planet in the process. That is why we work together with our suppliers, Rainforest Alliance to protect the environment and improve the living conditions of farmers, workers and their families. Our blends range from 50%-90% Rainforest Alliance Certified. We think this is a good start, but are working towards making our blends even more sustainable in the future.

In Partnership with Rainforest Alliance

When you buy Rainforest Alliance Certified tea you are helping build a better future.
Rainforest Alliance stands for more sustainable farming and better opportunities for farmers, their families and our planet. The Rainforest Alliance program enables farmers to learn better farming methods, improve working conditions and take better care of their children and the environment.

Through the Rainforest Alliance program farmers grow better crops, generate more income and create better opportunities while safeguarding the environment and securing the earth’s natural resources. Now and in the future. And that tastes a lot better.

Previously our herbal teas were certified under the UTZ programme, which is now part of the Rainforest Alliance. You might still spot Red Seal herbal with UTZ certification and plastic wrap - we have recently removed this and soon our whole herbal range will be refreshed and plastic free under the Rainforest Alliance Certification!

Learn more here.