Who is buying the tea?

Office managers ordering regularly

A repeat order needs a pack with a clear Fairtrade claim and a bag count that fits the meeting schedule without leaving a large supply unused.

Hosts serving different preferences

Black tea can be the main option, but guests may also want decaf or another tea style. Check the Fairtrade claim on each additional pack separately.

Procurement teams with a Fairtrade requirement

Approval depends on evidence for the exact product. Rainforest Alliance certification and general responsible-sourcing statements should not be treated as the same claim.

What should you check?

Start with the exact product’s Fairtrade claim, then choose a format that fits how often the tea will be served and who will drink it.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fairtrade claim Check the exact blend and pack for a Fairtrade claim. The Fairtrade Foundation says the classic Fairtrade Mark indicates that ingredients capable of Fairtrade certification are certified; a different sourcing logo is not that mark. I need to show that the tea ordered meets a Fairtrade-specific meeting brief, not just that its brand has a sourcing programme.
Pack count Compare expected servings and meeting frequency with the pack count. Clipper lists Fairtrade catering black tea in 440-bag and 1,120-bag formats; check that either can be stored and used at a sensible rate. For recurring meetings, I want enough tea between orders without committing to a much larger pack than we are likely to use.
Tea selection Identify whether the main pack is regular black tea, decaf or another style. Check a separate Fairtrade claim for every additional blend. Some attendees may prefer decaf or something other than black tea, so one everyday blend may not cover the drinks table.
Serving format Decide whether a catering pack or individual envelopes suit the setting. Clipper lists a 25-envelope Fairtrade Organic English Breakfast product for catering use; Twinings describes its Jacksons of Piccadilly collection as a Fairtrade range available to caterers. For a small or visitor-facing meeting, I may want individually presented servings rather than relying on a bulk pack.
Product information Keep the original pack or accurate ingredient and allergen details accessible when tea is set out. GOV.UK guidance requires retail and catering food businesses to provide allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink. If our organisation is serving refreshments as a food business, staff need access to the information for the products actually served.

Common buying mistakes

  • Treating every ethical-sourcing logo as Fairtrade

    A tea approved on the basis of another certification may not meet a brief that specifically asks for Fairtrade.

    Check the Fairtrade claim on the exact product or pack. Consider another certification only if the meeting organiser accepts it.

  • Ordering the largest pack by default

    Clipper’s 1,120-bag Fairtrade catering format commits the workplace to more tea and storage than its 440-bag format.

    Estimate servings per meeting and how often meetings take place before choosing a pack count.

    A pack that turns over slowly also occupies storage space for longer.

  • Assuming black tea covers every preference

    A regular black-tea catering pack does not provide a decaf or different-style option for attendees who want one.

    Plan any additional tea separately and check the Fairtrade claim on that exact blend and pack.

  • Removing packaging before recording product details

    Without the pack or an accurate record, staff may struggle to answer ingredient and allergen questions. GOV.UK guidance requires retail and catering food businesses to provide allergen information and manage allergens effectively.

    Keep the original packaging accessible or retain accurate details for each product served; follow the organisation’s food-safety procedures where it operates as a food business.

Relevant brand references

Certification can differ between ranges and products within the same brand, so use these references to narrow a search rather than approve a pack by brand name alone.

Clipper

Clipper’s own shop lists Fairtrade everyday black tea in 80-bag, 440-bag and 1,120-bag formats.

  • Its 440-bag and 1,120-bag catering listings state that the black tea is traded in compliance with Fairtrade standards, total 100%.
  • Check the claim and serving format on the particular Clipper pack being ordered.

Twinings

Twinings describes Jacksons of Piccadilly as a Fairtrade range of teas and infusions available to caterers.

  • The caterer range offers a route to considering more than one tea style.
  • Do not extend the range’s Fairtrade description to every Twinings tea bag; check the exact product.

Yorkshire Tea

Yorkshire Tea says its tea is Rainforest Alliance Certified and explains that Yorkshire Tea itself is not Fairtrade.

  • A distinct certification route to consider when Fairtrade is not a fixed requirement.
  • Its Rainforest Alliance claim does not fulfil a Fairtrade-only specification.

PG Tips

Rainforest Alliance identifies PG Tips among certified products available in the UK.

  • Provides a Rainforest Alliance-certified option where that certification is acceptable.
  • Check separately for a Fairtrade claim if the brief specifically requires one.

Tetley

Tetley’s sustainability materials discuss its responsible-sourcing partnerships.

  • Those materials provide context for evaluating the brand’s sourcing approach.
  • A partnership statement does not establish a Fairtrade claim for an individual tea-bag pack.

Typhoo

Typhoo says its new blend is Rainforest Alliance Certified and describes formats for retail, foodservice and wholesale customers.

  • Its trade range includes large-format tea; Typhoo describes its 1,100-bag product as Rainforest Alliance Certified.
  • That certification is not evidence of Fairtrade status for a Fairtrade-specific order.

Tea bags on Joybuy

These Clipper 80-bag packs offer a regular black-tea option and a separate decaf option for meetings. Fairtrade appears in their product names; check the claim on the exact pack before approving either for a Fairtrade-specific order.

Clipper Organic Fairtrade Decaf Everyday 80 Tea Bags, 277g

Clipper Organic Fairtrade Decaf Everyday 80 Tea Bags, 277g

A decaf black-tea option for attendees who do not want the regular blend. The pack contains 80 tea bags and is labelled 277g; check its exact-pack Fairtrade claim before including it in a Fairtrade-specific order.

Joybuy
Clipper Organic Fairtrade 80 Tea Bags, 232g

Clipper Organic Fairtrade 80 Tea Bags, 232g

A regular black-tea option where an 80-bag pack fits the meeting schedule. The pack is labelled 232g; confirm the Fairtrade claim for this exact variant before treating it as meeting a Fairtrade-specific brief.

Joybuy

Questions about meeting tea

Does Rainforest Alliance certification mean tea bags are Fairtrade?

No. They are different certification systems, so a Rainforest Alliance claim does not establish that a tea pack meets a Fairtrade-specific brief. Check the Fairtrade claim on the exact product instead.

Which tea-bag pack size suits work meetings?

Choose by expected servings, meeting frequency and storage space. Clipper lists Fairtrade 440-bag and 1,120-bag catering packs for black tea; the larger count makes sense only if demand is predictable enough to use it. For a smaller or visitor-facing meeting, Clipper also lists Fairtrade Organic English Breakfast in 25 envelopes.

Must allergen information be available with meeting refreshments?

For a workplace operating as a retail or catering food business, GOV.UK guidance requires allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink, alongside effective allergen management and staff training. Keep the packaging or accurate product details accessible, and establish whether those food-business duties apply to the organisation’s arrangements.