For Sustainable Tea Enjoyment

From tea cultivation to packaging, we are committed to making every stage of our supply chain more sustainable – a responsibility we have upheld for more than 200 years.

Since 1823, Ronnefeldt has stood for exceptional tea and responsible business practices. Sustainability is not an add-on for us, but an integral part of our corporate strategy – from the selection of our partners through to the finished cup of tea.

We combine traditional tea expertise with a clearly defined sustainability strategy that brings together environmental, social and economic considerations. Our aim is to continuously improve and transparently communicate our impact across the entire value chain.

Our Current Sustainability Goals at a Glance

For the years ahead, we have defined clear priorities to strengthen our environmental and social impact while sharpening our long-term strategy. The following goals and projects form the framework for measurable progress and strategic development:

Increase the proportion of organic products in our portfolio to 26% by 2027

Transition 70% of our vehicle fleet to low-emission vehicles by 2030

Annual carbon accounting including a reduction roadmap

Tea pickers carrying baskets are working on a green, undulating tea plantation.

»Ronnefeldt stands for quality, enjoyment and responsibility. This tradition commits us to actively contributing to a sustainable future – environmentally, socially and economically.«

Jan-Berend Holzapfel, Inhaber

The Three Pillars of Sustainability

Environmental
Responsibility

We have largely transitioned our packaging to recyclable materials and rely on renewable energy in our production processes. By using green electricity throughout the company, we have already been able to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions for many years. We remain committed to continuously improving our climate performance.

Social
Commitment

Our responsibility does not end at our doorstep. We support educational projects in the countries of origin of our teas and promote fair working conditions throughout the entire supply chain. Guided by the principles of fair trade, we work closely with our local partners to create long-term positive impact.

Economic
Sustainability

Long-standing partnerships with our suppliers – in some cases spanning generations – together with investments in sustainable cultivation methods, help secure not only the quality of our products but also the livelihoods of the people behind our tea. We focus on transparency and traceability to offer our customers the highest possible level of trust.

Our Contribution to the Global Sustainability Goals

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations provide the global framework for sustainable action until 2030. They address key challenges such as poverty reduction, climate action, health and responsible consumption. For Ronnefeldt, they serve as an important point of orientation.

Based on our corporate strategy, we conducted a materiality assessment which identified five SDGs that we pursue with particular focus and integrate into our daily operations.

These priorities reflect where we can create the greatest positive impact and take responsibility through our business activities – across our entire supply and value chain.

Glastasse mit Ronnefeldt Tee auf Unterteller vor warmem, unscharfem Hintergrund.

Icons for the UN Sustainable Development Goals: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Life on Land.

Social Sustainability in Tea Cultivation

Only a small proportion of the tea produced worldwide reaches Germany, and only part of that finds its way to Ronnefeldt. As a result, our direct influence on improving social standards in tea cultivation is limited. Nevertheless, it is important to us to help safeguard and improve the working and living conditions of people in tea-growing regions.

For this reason, we work with strong partners who maintain extensive socially committed networks in the countries of origin. Through these collaborations, we help ensure social standards throughout both upstream and downstream supply chains and contribute to sustainable development beyond our own company boundaries.

Zwei Frauen pflücken frische Teeblätter auf einer grünen, hügeligen Plantage bei Sonnenschein

Targeted Support at Origin

Tea-producing countries often face low social standards. This is why we place great importance on a tea-specific and regionally focused support approach by working together with the organisations Childaid Network and Ethical Tea Partnership, both of which are dedicated to promoting socially and environmentally sustainable development in tea-growing regions.

To promote sustainability in the tea sector, we are members of the following associations and organisations:

Transparent Carbon Accounting and Targeted Emissions Reduction

To make our contribution to climate protection measurable and effective, we rely on a TÜV-certified software solution from Green Vision Solutions. It forms the basis of our climate strategy and provides transparency regarding emissions across our entire value chain.

Together with external experts, we analyse emission sources – from raw material procurement and packaging through to transport and logistics. This enables us to identify opportunities for improvement and implement targeted reduction measures. These include optimising transport routes, using more sustainable packaging materials and working closely with certified partners.

Our goal is to continuously measure and improve our climate performance and contribute to a more sustainable future in the long term.

About Our Partner: Ethical Tea Partnership

The Ethical Tea Partnership is a global, not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to promoting socially and environmentally sustainable tea production in tea-growing regions around the world. Ronnefeldt has supported the work of the Ethical Tea Partnership as a member since 2013.

The mission of the Ethical Tea Partnership is to drive long-term systemic change in tea-growing regions by actively listening to workers, farmers and communities, bringing members together, encouraging collaboration and mobilising resources to address key issues relating to economic resilience, equality and the environment.

What Is Childaid Network?

The Childaid Network foundation is committed to improving education for disadvantaged children and young people in order to combat poverty and create better future opportunities. Particular focus is placed on the tea-growing region of Assam in north-east India, although the foundation also runs projects in Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Ronnefeldt has been a proud partner and supporter of Childaid Network since 2010. Our owner, Jan-Berend Holzapfel, has been a member of the foundation board since 2016 and contributes his valuable expertise in this role.

Childaid Network supports families in establishing small tea gardens, enabling them to build independent livelihoods. Around 1,000 families have already created their own tea gardens and joined co-operatives to market and sell tea collectively. We intend to further strengthen our commitment to Childaid Network in the future.

Further information can be found at www.childaid.net.

MORE ABOUT OUR CURRENT SPONSORSHIP PROJECT

Group of young children sitting in a circle on the floor with a teacher, learning and playing with notebooks and small stones.

The Ronnefeldt Sustainability Report is lying on an armchair

Download

Would you like to learn more about sustainability at Ronnefeldt? Then download our sustainability reports below:

Ronnefeldt - Sustainability Report 2024 (7.69 MB)

Ronnefeldt - Sustainability Report 2018 (3.20 MB)

Sustainability reports always refer to the past, as historical data is required, among other things, to prepare the carbon footprint assessment. Accordingly, the “Sustainability Report 2024” relates to the year 2024.

RONNEFELDT SUSTAINABILITY REPORT