Sustainability

Sustainable Business Is Conscious Business

No one encompassing certification, logo or label accredits a business as “sustainable.” At Rishi Tea & Botanicals, we subscribe to being a conscious business where our entire ecosystem matters. From the farmers we work with overseas to our manufacturing conditions at home, we are steadfast in following our code of ethics and ensuring the well-being of all the parties involved. A conscious business is one that pays attention to both the raw materials and the human effort, recognizing it is the sum of these resources that creates a sustainable and resilient business.

Certified USDA Organic Since 2002

One of our missions at Rishi Tea is to change the behavior of consumers, introducing them to the benefits of choosing organic food and beverages. With the support of local co-ops and national chains who share this calling, the availability of organic options is ever-increasing. We consider ourselves ambassadors of the organic movement – approximately 95% of our products are certified organic and we have been a leader in the market in North America since our inception in 1997. By creating demand for organic teas and botanicals, we are showing the origin farmers that there is a sustainable business opportunity in meeting this demand.

Some of our partners like those in Mingjian Village, Taiwan practice sustainable, organic farming techniques and yet are not organic certified. These heritage and grand cru type producers have their own set of exacting standards. In addition, most of their market in Asia does not demand USDA Organic certification. Despite their lack of USDA Organic certification our first-hand experience at their farm allows us to know with certainty that their practices fit our sustainable philosophy. This gives us full confidence that even our teas that lack organic certification are still grown safely and are healthy for the ecosystem, ourselves and our customers.

Explore Biodiversity in Mingjian Village, Taiwan

A Safer Eco-Friendly Sachet

For years, we provided only loose leaf tea to the market, knowing full-well producing and offering tea bags held big financial opportunity. On a quest for a material that was compostable, BPA-free and allowed for an authentic infusion of our teas and botanicals, we researched and experimented with many variations of a sachet fabric. We refused to sell ourselves short just to participate in a market segment. In 2013, we finally found a sachet that met our quality standards and respected the environment.

Learn More on Our Sachet Page

Sourcing Direct from Origin

Throughout the year our buyers are in the fields consulting, tasting and verifying where, when and how our organic teas are grown and to offer traceability on each lot back to the very soil where the tea trees and botanicals are planted. We work directly with the farmers in a collaborative effort to produce elevated products grown with organic agriculture.

Learn About Our Direct Trade

Our Conscious Culture

Our conscious culture was put on showcase in 2014, when Rishi moved into a 48,000sf headquarters in Milwaukee, WI. During the construction of this state-of-the-art facility, attention was given to mindful practices. Lighting is LED and motion-controlled in areas of low activity, all appliances are energy-saving and some of the materials were reclaimed from a few of Milwaukee’s former buildings. Our employees have initiated many philanthropic activities including volunteering in greenhouses, soup kitchens, energy fairs and other outlets. We also work with Milwaukee gardens to compost any excess product, thus feeding the next cycle of trees and plants in our community’s own backyard. A consciously sustainable culture is the very fabric of Rishi Tea & Botanicals.