Did you know 2023 was the hottest year on record? With the reports to soon come in for 2024, we’re confident that it may be even hotter than 2023 and with more destruction to the climate than ever before.
With more food and water insecurity in developing nations, extreme weather events, natural disasters, and disruptions to agriculture, we are all facing more threats than ever before.
To minimise these, it takes a team and a whole planet to do better for good. In addition to making tasty herbal teas, at NutraTea, we also try our best to make a sustainable product and live by a sustainable ethos. Dive in with us today on how we’re a sustainable UK brand and how you can make sustainable changes, too!
Our sustainability ethos
At NutraTea, we know the importance and true power of nature, which is why we’re more than just a business. We’re B-Corp certified and care about making a positive impact on the world by sourcing our herbs from sustainable farmers and making environmentally friendly packaging. Our tea bags are also biodegradable, and we care about creating teas free from flavourings and oils.
In addition to our values, we also select our blends according to the following criteria:
- Purity
- Sustainability
- Supply power (can they grow with us if demand increases)
- Ethically grown
- Carbon emissions to get to our contract manufacturer
- Price
We also constantly review and innovate our herbal tea blends to ensure we stay committed to our values. Learn more about our values.
How you can make more sustainable changes in your life
Just like us being a sustainable UK brand, you can also play a role in helping us all live in a better world, preserving the planet for as long as possible. Here are sustainable change examples you can make in your own life:
Ditch the single use plastics
Did you know that, on average, around 50% of plastic in the world is used and thrown away? As humans, we’ve all been victims at some point or still are of living a disposable, use-and-throw lifestyle. But the truth is, plastics are destroying our planet. Plastics can take 100-1000s of years to decompose and seriously harm species by accidental ingestion, causing suffocation and entanglement, not to mention pollution, too!
How to change: To reduce your consumption of single use plastics, bring your own reusable bags when you shop to reduce plastic waste. Use reusable water bottles, coffee cups and utensils.
Consume less meat
Meat production is a major destructor for the planet. It’s one of the biggest causes of deforestation, killing habitats and even species. It involves large amounts of water use, pollution and emits many greenhouse gasses. By reducing your meat consumption, you can help play a role in lowering your carbon footprint and reduce carbon emissions.
How to change: If you can’t cut out meat entirely from your diet or reduce your consumption, that’s ok. Instead, opt for locally sourced meat that supports local farmers reducing transportation emissions and ones that support sustainable agricultural practices.
Opt for public transport or sustainable transport options
Did you know transport is the sector that emits the most greenhouse gases? It’s true, whether it’s cars, aeroplanes, trains, motorbikes and more transport can cause more harm than good for the environment. How you commute to work, social events and in your downtime can play a major role in the environment around you.
How to change: To reduce your greenhouse gas contribution, try to opt for public transport or carpool to decrease carbon emissions. For short and accessible distances, walk, run or cycle to promote sustainable exercise.
Reduce food waste
On average, each year one third of food is wasted worldwide around $1.3 billion tonnes; that’s a lot! Not just that, but the food that gets thrown away can have a major impact on global warming, more than the airline industry, global plastics and global oil extraction, contributing to 11.8% of greenhouse emissions.
So what does that mean? It simply means any food you over order and throw out as it expires, or food you aren’t able to finish on your plate at home or at a restaurant can have a major downside on the environment. In particular, when it’s thrown into landfills and decomposes, methane is generated as a byproduct contributing to global warming. It also means that all of the energy used in growing, processing and transporting, processing is wasted.
How to change: Plan your meals in advance and only use ingredients you already have at home to reduce the chances of overbuying. Buy food and ingredients in small quantities to reduce excess waste. Always check your fridge to know the food you have in stock and before it expires.
Energy conservation
As a sustainable UK brand we care about our energy conservation and try to decrease our energy expenditure as much as possible. You can also reduce your energy output by focusing on your electricity, heating and appliance usage at home.
How to change: Switching to LED light bulbs, for instance, as opposed to incandescent lighting, can help you use up to 90% less energy. Moreover, adding a smart thermostat to your home can help schedule and adjust temperatures, saving on energy and unwanted costs, alongside running the dishwasher and oven at a lower temperature or switching to energy-efficient appliances.
Final thoughts
Overall, these are just a few sustainable change examples you can make in your daily life to contribute better to the planet. At Nutratea we regularly look for ways we can conserve energy, reduce our footprint and support sustainable practices from ingredient sourcing, working with local farmers and making our packaging eco friendly.
Want more inspiration on how to live a sustainable lifestyle? Check out our post- 5 sustainability examples in everyday life.
