About

Sourced with Care

Launched in 2016, Sourced with Care is Twinings’ tea and herbs responsible sourcing programme.

Every day, in gardens and farms across the world, hundreds of thousands of people grow, tend and harvest tea and herbs. We depend upon their skill and care for our fine ingredients and recognise the value they bring.

Sourced with Care aims to improve the lives of the communities where we source our tea and herbs. The programme focuses on three key areas: life opportunities; living standards; livelihoods and land.

Our Vision

Our vision is for healthier, happier, empowered, and sustainable communities in our supply chain.

Our Approach

Our History

Twinings has been at the forefront of progress in the world of tea for more than 300 years.

It all began in a little shop on the Strand in London, where Thomas Twining first started selling tea. Since then, we have expanded into a worldwide premium brand, with over 500 blends of tea sold in more than 100 countries.

The world has changed a lot in that time – but the shop is still there and so is our passion for the finest tea, created with respect for the people and communities we source from.

Our Sourced With Care Journey

1997

Ethical Tea Partnership

Twinings becomes one of the founding members of ETP, an organisation working to create a fairer, more sustainable tea industry for tea workers, farmers and the environment.

2004

Start of Save the Children partnership in China

Partnership launches. 520,000 children helped so far.

2010

Beginning of UNICEF partnership

Partnership launches in Assam.

2010

Water, sanitation and hygiene

Work begins on tea estates in India.

2015

Approved tea gardens

List established as part of a consolidated sourcing approach.

2016

Sourced with Care

Programme launches along with first Twinings Community Needs Assessment in India and women’s health and empowerment project in Kenya.

2018

Supply chain transparency

We become only the second major tea brand to publish list of tea gardens we source from.

2019

Herbs supply chain

Project launches in Guatemala.

2020

100% of tea sourced from certified gardens

Twinings achieves major ethical sourcing milestone. Meanwhile 500,000+ people now positively impacted by Sourced with Care.

2023

First published Human Rights Report

Twinings Ovaltine published it's first Human Rights report.

Our impact so far

Sourced with Care 2023 Progress includes 173,000+ women whose lives have been improved by health interventions, 180,000+ community members we have reached through handwashing and hygiene programmes, and 6,000 farmers trained in sustainable agriculture practices.

Read Progress Report

Meet the Team

I have seen first-hand the positive impact our work has on tea communities, and this is the most fulfilling part of my work.

Céline Gilart
Director of Social Impact and Sustainability
Sushmita Gogoi
Ethical Sourcing Executive, India

Seeing the positive change our interventions generate in the health and wellbeing of community members is my greatest joy.

Peris Ochieng
Ethical Sourcing Manager, Africa

Sourced with Care gives me opportunities to collaborate for change and apply ideas to drive ethical business agenda.

Bipul Borah
Senior Social Impact Manager, Asia
Lahari De Alwis
Ethical Sourcing Manager - Raw Materials
Swas Thapa
Ethical Sourcing Executive, India

I love the impact that we can make through our Sourced with Care programmes. It makes me believe everyone holds the power for change.

Priscilla Zhu
Ethical Sourcing Manager - FMIP

Our work enables us to understand, find and provide solutions to tackle challenges for our suppliers and the communities they sustain around the world.

Hernan Zunino
Nature and Climate Manager

Sourced with Care is an inspiring programme, that has direct impact on communities where we source. I am proud to be part of this journey.

Carina Hsuan
Communications and Learning Manager
Brenda Osodo
Ethical Sourcing Executive, Africa
Phutita Sriprapha
Social Impact Coordinator, Thailand
Jie Wang
Ethical Sourcing Executive, China