Sustainable Sips: Brands Brewing a Better Future

In a world grappling with climate change, water scarcity, and income inequality, consumers are increasingly scrutinizing the social and environmental impact of their purchasing decisions. This trend was evident at the recent Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, where the term "sustainable" was ubiquitous. However, the vagueness of the term can be confusing, leading to a disconnect between consumer preferences and actual behavior. Nonetheless, a growing number of food and beverage companies are finding innovative ways to demonstrate that their products can not only taste good, but also do good.

Brewing a Sustainable Future, One Cup at a Time

Regenerative Agriculture: The New Frontier in Sustainable Oils

The success of a food or drink business is predicated on many factors, but in an era of environmental consciousness, consumers are increasingly drawn to brands that prioritize sustainability. One such company is La Tourangelle, a French-American producer of high-quality oils, including olive, avocado, and nut varieties. A year ago, La Tourangelle debuted a line of regeneratively farmed sunflower and flax oils, becoming part of the first organic and regenerative oilseed program in California. Regenerative agriculture is a climate-smart approach that treats farms as part of a larger ecosystem, aiming to improve soil health, sequester carbon, and enhance biodiversity. By embracing this innovative farming method, La Tourangelle is not only producing exceptional oils but also contributing to a more sustainable future.

Empowering Tea Farmers, One Sip at a Time

The global tea market is valued at nearly billion, yet many smallholder tea farmers struggle to make ends meet. Husband and wife duo Harshit and Sudarshana Parolia, founders of the tea company Brewix, are working to change this dynamic. By establishing direct relationships with tea farmers in Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and Assam, Brewix ensures fair wages, better working conditions, and support for sustainable practices. The company also funds a project to remove low-value plastics from the Dehradun region, recovering the equivalent of 29 million plastic bags to date. Brewix's teas, which are free of artificial additives and coloring, offer a diverse range of flavors, including the fragrant Masala Chai.

Lifting Nepalese Tea Farmers Out of Poverty

Across the border in Nepal, the situation for smallholder tea farmers is similar, with many struggling to make a living. The Nepal Tea Collective, an immigrant-owned public benefit corporation, aims to lift one million tea farmers out of poverty within the founders' lifetime. Like Brewix, the Nepal Tea Collective buys directly from farmers and shares 1% of its revenue with them. The company's packaging features a QR code that tells the story of each product's origin, and customers can even tip their farmer via a PayPal link. One of the Nepal Tea Collective's best-selling products is a three-item bundle featuring white, gold, and chai teas.

Seasoning with a Light Carbon Footprint

For the Icelandic company Saltverk, sustainability is not just a buzzword but a way of life. Located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where hot springs naturally heat the water to 206°F, Saltverk uses geothermal energy to preheat, boil, and dry the seawater from which its salt emerges. This process generates no carbon dioxide or methane emissions, leaving a zero-carbon footprint. Beyond its plain flaky sea salt, Saltverk also produces flavored varieties, such as its aromatic birch-smoked salt and a version infused with Arctic thyme.

Building Community Over a Cup of Coffee

Closer to home, the nonprofit Grace Farms Foundation in New Canaan, Connecticut, is using coffee and tea to bring people together. The foundation's Grace Farm Foods line sells teas and coffees sourced exclusively from women-led co-ops in Ethiopia, Colombia, and Indonesia, with all profits going to the foundation's Design for FREEDOM initiative, which aims to improve working conditions and end forced and child labor in the building-materials industry. The easy-to-brew iced teas, available in flavors like spearmint rose and ginger peach, are particularly appealing, and the company's commitment to plastic-free, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging further enhances its sustainability credentials.

Dangerously Delicious Sustainable Hot Sauces

Based in the southern African country of Eswatini, Black Mamba is a hot-sauce and hot-honey producer with a mission to "build a better world through good food." The company collaborates with Guba, a local organization that trains smallholder farmers in regenerative practices, and sources its organically grown ingredients from the 90 or so smallholders in Guba's network, 75% of whom are women heads of household. Any leftover produce is returned to Guba for composting or animal feed, and Black Mamba's packaging is either recyclable or biodegradable. The company's range of sauces, from the mild and sweet pineapple to the fiery "XXXtra hot" peri peri, offer a delicious and sustainable way to spice up any meal.