SUSTAINABILITY
50
This is about finding better yields for both parties , achieving better quality , better efficiency , saving in every possible way for both sides , and knowing very well that we ’ re entering into long-term relationships .”
From the very beginning , English Tea Shop has cultivated its small network of growers by investing in technology and sharing knowledge , working to convince other growers to take up organic farming practices . “ We had to inspire other people to buy into organic small farming to expand our supply base ,” says Herath . “ From the simplest things , like giving suppliers a long-term contract , to building big storage facilities to hold stocks because we didn ’ t have the luxury of working off an auction that gave us weekly demand .” The process worked , and English Tea Shop ’ s positive impact on its growers ’ lives has continued to spread . “ In 2018 , we launched a sustainability impact report . The results showed that we had impacted over 1,352 farmer families , in terms of investing in them , paying for their organic and Fairtrade certifications , paying for their new technologies , supplying them with irrigation solutions , and building and helping them develop regional
schools .” Herath maintains that this sort of investment at the base of the pyramid is essential to the creation of shared value . “ If you don ’ t do these things , then our kind of model cannot be a success , because how do you expect small farmers to be planning or taking risks without that support ? It so unfair ,” he says . “ We had to take the risk , we had to take the burden , and we had to build those growers ’ capabilities to ensure
JUNE 2019