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Tea brands accused of human rights abuses

Multinational companies with tea brands, like Unilever, Starbucks and Tetley, have been linked to dozens of counts of human rights abuse in their supply chains from last year alone, according to a recent report from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC).

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), an international human rights organization based in the UK, compiled a list of 70 public allegations of abuse in the tea industry in 2022 and published the findings last month.

Most of the incidents took place at the supplier level in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Uganda, and could be classified into three categories: the right to freedom of association; health and safety infringements; and abuses related to wages, benefits and living standards.

“This report demonstrates the need for greater action by leading tea companies to implement their commitments to the [United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights], comply with emerging legal requirements and ensure worker welfare along their supply chains – and sets out recommendations for tea buyers and policymakers,” BHRRC said.

Certifications aren’t enough anymore

The report notes that climate change has played a role in making growing conditions tougher and less predictable for the tea industry, and that it is workers and their communities that are paying the price. Workers deal with long hours, poverty wages, systemic sexual harassment, violence, and job insecurity.

“At the same time, the multinational companies selling tea to consumers continue to turn huge profits,” BHRRC said.

Sixteen tea buyers were named in the abuse accusations: Ahmad Tea, Bettys & Taylors, ekaterra, Goodricke, James Finlay, Jenier, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Plus, Ringtons, Starbucks Teavana, Tesco, Tetley, Twinings, Typhoo, and Unilever.

© AdobeStock/sonyakamoz

The 70 incidents from 2022 outlined in the report covered a wide range. In Bangladesh, thousands of workers protested for higher wages, while workers in India conducted a hunger strike when they were not paid their salaries. Also in India, several workers were attacked by leopards and bison while at work, and others were injured by machines because they were not provided with proper safety equipment.

BHRRC called this “only the tip of the iceberg” as most incidents of abuse go unreported, and it should be assumed that these numbers are actually higher.

The human rights organization said the companies rely too heavily on bare minimum certifications to assure their compliance and safety measures, like the Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade certifications.

There has also been a lot of industry consolidation and ownership restructuring in tea, which can lead to cutting corners and safety practices falling through the cracks. BHRRC called for full transparency across the supply chain in order to rectify the issues.

“While important progress by the tea industry is noted–including through the existence of human rights policies and an awareness of the importance of human rights diligence–this analysis demonstrates the gaps between policy and practice which remain, with tea workers across the world suffering from this divergence,” BHRRC said.

Brands claim responsibility

Nearly all of the tea brands named responded to the allegations in the report.

“We are working to do more to proactively monitor and engage with our tier two (non-direct) suppliers on responsible business, this is where many of the still endemic issues in the tea supply chain exist,” Unilever said, noting that it needs to take more meaningful and inclusive actions to ensure labor requirements are met beyond relying on certifications.

© AdobeStock/nixki

Starbucks said it is actively engaging with its tea suppliers and reinforcing that they must inform Starbucks of any human rights related concerns in the future, and confirming that their suppliers are up-to-date on their certifications.

“Starbucks remains committed to 100% responsible sourcing in our tea supply chain and supporting all our coffee, tea and cocoa communities, and the farmers and workers who produce the ingredients needed to operate our business.”

Tetley said it was unaware of the allegations of abuse in its supply chain before being informed by BHRRC, and that it is in the process of investigating the claims.

“Issues that exist in the tea industry are too large for any one body to tackle alone. We believe that it is right to collaborate with others and work in partnership with producers to work for positive change.”