At Newby London, we are sourcing, blending, and preserving the finest teas while creating a positive impact on society. As a responsible brand, we are working towards ambitious sustainability goals with our partners, colleagues, and suppliers.
What is Net Zero?
Achieving net zero entails ensuring that the greenhouse gases we emit are offset by removal methods, resulting in zero net emissions. This approach is essential for addressing climate change and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the imperative of limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
To reach net zero, it's vital to focus on carbon footprint reduction, reducing emissions and implementing strategies to offset any remaining ones. This effort is pivotal in fostering a more sustainable and resilient planet for present and future generations.
Our Journey to Net Zero 2030
In our Newby net zero journey, we are taking significant steps towards reducing our carbon footprint. Starting from our base year in 2022 focusing on Scope 1 and 2 emissions from our preservation and packing centre.
Additionally, we'll begin calculating emissions from our headquarters office in London from 2025.
Differentiating Carbon Neutral and Net Zero
"Climate neutrality refers to the idea of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by balancing those emissions so they are equal (or less than) the emissions that get removed through the planet’s natural absorption; in basic terms it means we reduce our emissions through climate action." says the Beginner's Guide to Climate Neutrality of United Nations Climate Change.
Carbon neutral means that the brands balance the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere with an equivalent amount that is offset, often through initiatives such as reforestation or renewable energy projects. This approach aims to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint by counteracting emissions through various compensatory measures.
Net-zero carbon means that no carbon emissions were produced in the first place, eliminating the need for carbon capture or offsetting.
Net zero goes beyond neutrality by striving to minimise emissions, aligning with sustainability goals to effectively mitigate climate change.
What is the Tea Carbon Footprint?
Tea cultivation involves various processes that contribute to its carbon footprint, which refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted during its production. From the growth of tea bushes to packaging and transportation, each stage generates emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2).
The carbon footprint of tea begins with the cultivation process. Growing tea bushes requires resources such as water and electricity, all of which contribute to emissions. Additionally, the energy consumed by machinery and equipment in packing and preservation centres adds to the carbon footprint.
Transportation also plays a significant role in the carbon footprint of tea. Shipping tea from farms to our centres and then to distribution points generates emissions, especially if fossil fuels power the vehicles.
We recognise the importance of measuring our emission sources across the production and distribution chain. By embracing sustainable innovations like renewable energy sources, and adopting eco-friendly packaging, as well as measuring our CHG Gemissions, we aim to diminish the environmental impact of tea production.
Newby’s Carbon Neutral Initiatives
At Newby, we are committed to being a responsible brand, both socially with the N. Sethia Foundation and environmentally. As part of this commitment, we're dedicated to implementing carbon-neutral initiatives that align with our values, including cutting emissions from our own operations and transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar panels. Below, we outline our proactive initiatives aimed at carbon footprint reduction and fostering sustainability across our operations.
Evita Upeniece, Newby Tea Sommelier
Carbon Neutral Production: Cutting emissions from our own operations
We own our packing and preservation centre in Kolkata, India. Being located in the heart of the main tea-growing regions reduces transport and helps preserve the quality of the tea.
This provides us with the opportunity to increase our use of renewable energy and assess our environmental impact.
With mechanisms to control temperature and humidity levels, the centre guarantees that each bespoke blend is painstakingly protected from environmental contaminants.
The only one of its kind in the world for tea, the centre receives the highest accreditation in safety and quality by BRC Global Standards and HACCP year after year.
We are delighted to share that our packing and preservation centre in Kolkata is now carbon neutral. We have successfully offset 279 CHG Emissions (tCO2e) for the year 2022, which becomes our base year for our net-zero emissions Scope 1 and 2 of the centre.
To achieve carbon neutrality, we offset our emissions by investing in Hydroelectric Power Projects in Uttarakhand, India. Our carbon reduction plan is monitored and verified by our reliable partner, DNV.
Switching to renewable energy to achieve carbon neutrality
Our team in India has worked relentlessly, with dedication and passion to switch to renewable energy. We are now using photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and energy for our highly energy-efficient centre.
The centre uses energy to keep tea refreshed to a certain temperature, keep humidity to control levels, and power our packing machines.
This is why we switched to 50% solar panel energy power, with an objective to increase it over time. One of our projects is to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030 to continue our journey to carbon neutrality.
Carbon Neutral Transportation: working with sustainable partners
We partnered with DPD for all-electric deliveries and carbon savings, and chose Royal Mail for its commitment to sustainability, evident in their investments in technologies such as electric vehicles, drones, and alternative fuel trucks.
Our next stage will be to calculate our Scope 3 emissions for the transportation of Newby teas from Asia, to the world.
Tea is a porous leaf and as such, is highly susceptible to damage by heat, humidity and pollution if not preserved appropriately. This is why we are the only tea brand in the world to have a state of the art preservation and packing facility in Kolkata, India with close proximity to fine tea growing regions to safeguard the character of the product.
Carbon Neutral Office
We are currently working with Climate Partner to supervise our carbon emission reduction journey for Newby UK headquarters, encompassing both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Our aim is to publish a comprehensive report by January 2026, underlining our commitment to sustainability.
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