So what exactly does the ETP do?

Assuring living and working conditions on tea estates

The ETP uses independent monitors to assess how estates are performing against the social and environmental criteria laid out in the ETP Standard.

These are

- employment is freely chosen
- freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
- health and safety
- child labor and young workers
- wages, benefits and working hours
- regular employment
- no harsh, inhumane or discriminatory treatment
- agrochemicals
- biodiversity
- soil and water conservation
- energy use and waste management

If an estate fails to meet the requirements of the Standard, an ETP Regional Manager will work with estate management to address the issues. If the producer does not take steps to deal with the problem areas, then the estate will be suspended and no ETP member will buy from it until full remediation has taken place.

Helping estates become more sustainable

The ETP partners with reputable organizations such as UNICEF and CARE International to jointly raise funds for projects that will help producers meet the ETP Standard. Since it was founded in 1997, the ETP has worked on a wide range of issues that have brought about long lasting improvements for people who live and work on tea estates. Examples are improving health and safety through dust control in China, involving both workers and management in key decision-making in Sri Lanka and an age checking system to reduce the potential for child labor in Malawi.