Sustainability and Voluntary Certification in the Kenyan Tea Sector
IISD convened key representatives from all segments of the Kenyan tea value chain for a multistakeholder meeting of the sector, held on March 6, 2019, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Voluntary Sustainability Certification (VSC) has grown rapidly in Kenya over the past decade, driven by significant buyer demand for Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification.
This development has been coupled with rapid growth in participation in the Fair Trade and the former UTZ programs (now merged with RA), a dynamic that has brought opportunities and challenges for the tea sector.
To address these issues, the facilitating organizations (Kenya Tea Directorate, Sustainable Inclusive Business/KEPSA, and the International Institute for Sustainable Development [IISD]), through the support of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) convened key representatives from all segments of the Kenyan tea value chain for a multistakeholder meeting of the sector, held on March 6, 2019, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Participating experts
You might also be interested in
Women Turning the Table on Food Loss and Waste in Kenya
A group of changemakers led a movement to tackle food loss and waste in Kenya. IISD experts have been working closely with local women leaders to make change happen.
Growing Tea Sustainably: Examples from Kenya, India, and Sri Lanka
From climate change impacts to price fluctuations, producing tea can be a volatile business. Here's how some of the world’s major tea-producing countries are making the industry more stable—and sustainable.
Fitting the Pieces of the Puzzle
Governments are adopting sustainability standards for global value chains (GVCs), but businesses in the Global South face challenges in meeting these evolving regulations.
Will the Inclusion of Voluntary Standards in Trade Agreements Lead to More Sustainable Trade?
The use of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and similar systems in free trade agreements (FTAs) is gaining traction. Will it lead to more sustainable production and consumption globally?