Rank a Brand

How sustainable is Twinings ?

Twinings & sustainability


Twinings
Reasonable, could be better Click here for score rapport: 8 out of 19

Sustainability summary

Twinings has achieved the C-label. Twinings has started to take sustainability into account. Still, a lot more can be done.

Brand owner: Associated British Foods plc
Head office: London, UK
Sector: Tea brands
Categories : 
Free Tags: ABF, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ Certified

Compare other brands

What's your sustainability news about Twinings?

Twinings sustainability score report

Last edited: 23 September 2018 by Greg
Last reviewed: 23 September 2018 by Maarten

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

0 out of 4
1. Does the brand (owner) have a policy to reduce climate emissions generated from its own operations as well as its product supply chain? Associated British Foods (brand owner of Twinings) implements several measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of its own operations, such as using renewable energy, but does not report any measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of its supply chain (see link page 13-14). Source
2. Has the brand (owner) disclosed the annual absolute climate footprint of its 'own operations', and has it accomplished an overall absolute climate footprint reduction compared to the result of the previous reporting year? ABF reports a climate footprint of 8.7 million tonnes CO2e in 2017, which is the same as in 2016 (see link, page 14). Source
3. Has the brand (owner) disclosed the annual absolute climate footprint of its supply chain that is 'beyond own operations', and has it accomplished an overall absolute climate footprint reduction compared to the result of the previous reporting year? ABF specifically states that they have not been able to calculate the emissions of their purchased goods and services in 2017 (see link, under CC14). Source
4. Has the brand (owner) set a target to make at least its own operations fully climate neutral by 2030, and is the brand on track to achieve this target? ABF does not communicate any information on its climate footprint towards a climate neutrality goal for its own operations (see link, under CC3). Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

3 out of 7
1. Does the brand use organic or otherwise environmentally certified tea for at least 5% of its volume? All of Twinings' tea is certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership. On top of that, 75% of its tea carries certifications such as Rainforest Alliance, Utz and Fairtrade. Twinings' environmental certification score is therefore calculated as at least 67% (see link, page 16). Source
2. Does the brand use organic or otherwise environmentally certified tea for at least 30% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
3. Does the brand use organic or otherwise environmentally certified tea for at least 50% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
4. Does the brand use organic or otherwise environmentally certified tea for at least 70% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
5. Does the brand use organic or otherwise environmentally certified tea for at least 95% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
6. Does the brand (owner) report what percentage of its consumer packaging materials are renewable or made from recycled materials, and does the brand implement best practices or concrete policies which have reduced the environmental impact of their packaging materials? ABF reports a 2% reduction in packaging weight, but does not report the percentage of recycled or renewable materials for its consumer packaging (see link, page 15). Source
7. Does the brand (owner) publish its absolute waste materials footprint and implement concrete policies to minimize waste, by reducing, re-using and recycling, thereby decreasing its waste footprint compared to the previous reporting year? ABF reports the annual waste by type, weight and way of disposal, but has increased it waste footprint in 2017 by 16% compared to 2016 (see link, page 15). Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

5 out of 8
1. Does the brand (owner) have a clear and effective policy to improve the farmers’ income that goes beyond certification? Twinings' "Sourced with Care Programme" employs various initiatives to improve farmers' living standards, but it is not clear how much this improves farmer's income beyond social certifications (see link, page 15). Source
2. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 5% tea from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the tea? All of Twinings' tea is certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership. On top of that, 75% of its tea carries certifications such as Rainforest Alliance, Utz and Fairtrade. Twinings' environmental certification score is therefore calculated as at least 71% (see link, page 16). Source
3. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 20% tea from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the tea? See remark for labor conditions policy question 2. Source
4. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 40% tea from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the tea? See remark for labor conditions policy question 2. Source
5. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 60% tea from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the tea? See remark for labor conditions policy question 2. Source
6. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 80% tea from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the tea? See remark for labor conditions policy question 2. Source
7. Does the brand (company) use socially certified tea for at least 95% of its volume, thus combating child labor and forced labour, and providing a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the tea? See remark for labor conditions policy question 2. Source
8. Does the brand (company) maintain a published list of tea suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume of tea? Twinings publishes a list of direct suppliers that covers at least 90% of its total production. Source