Sustainability in the Tea Value Chain
Explore how tea is grown, processed, traded and consumed through the lens of sustainability and learn what it takes to make tea production fair, resilient and future-ready.
Outline
This unit explores the environmental, social and economic choices behind tea. Learn how value is shared – or withheld – across the tea supply chain.
You’ll find a grounded, globally relevant introduction to sustainability in tea. In tracing the journey of tea from field to cup we explore what happens at each stage: who grows it, who processes it, who profits, and who gets left behind. We look at working conditions, climate adaptation, certifications, agroecology, and innovation through case studies from producers tackling real-world challenges.
Rather than offering slogans or single answers, this unit encourages learners to ask better questions: What does fair mean in practice? What does sustainable cost? Can artisan and scale co-exist? You’ll learn to speak credibly and carefully about sustainability and understand the impact of your own choices as a buyer, educator or consumer.
This unit also gives you the opportunity to connect with producers working hard to address the key issues. Through demonstrating their established environmental and community initiatives they share their practice and demonstrate how profit is not the only measure of success.
On completion
At the end of the unit, you’ll complete a multiple-choice quiz.
Qualification
When you have passed the MCQs you’ll receive an OCN London digital badge to demonstrate your understanding of the sustainability challenges facing every tea producer, supplier, retailer and consumer.
This is a core unit in the Tea Sommelier Award and an optional unit in the World Tea Diploma
Snapshot
- Self-guided study online
- £225
Other Similar Units
Below are some other core units from the Tea Sommelier Award and optional units in World Tea Diploma
Explore how tea pairs with food across cultures and regional cooking. Understand balance, contrast, and how to bring tea and food combinations together with skill and imagination.
- Self-guided study online
£225
Develop the vocabulary to describe tea with clarity and imagination and learn to express yourself around the sensory aspects of tea across cultures and contexts.
- Access to speciality webinar
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Placing the focus on three under-recognised but highly significant tea regions, this is an exploration of resilience and craft, taking in wild trees, artisan revival and quiet rituals.
- Self-guided study online