Global tea industry unveils new tea typology on Cool Farm platform to enhance carbon measurement

GLOBAL – The global tea industry has introduced a dedicated tea typology within the Cool Farm Platform’s Perennial Pathway, marking a major advancement in the sector’s efforts to strengthen climate action and improve the precision of carbon measurement tools.  

The development provides tea producers and supply chain partners with a tailored resource to assess and manage greenhouse gas emissions linked to tea cultivation. 

The Cool Farm Platform is an internationally recognised, science-based sustainability calculator used by farmers, agronomists, and industry stakeholders to evaluate the environmental impact of agricultural practices.  

The tool measures greenhouse gas emissions, water use, biodiversity, and other sustainability-related indicators, enabling users to apply data-driven strategies that support climate-smart agriculture. 

This milestone was achieved through collaboration between the Cool Farm Alliance, Cranfield University, and LIPTON Teas and Infusions, which contributed essential datasets and agronomic expertise.  

The initiative was co-funded by a consortium of leading tea organisations, including Ahmad Tea, Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate Limited, Camellia Plc, Finlays, George Williamson & Co. Ltd., Mother Parker’s Tea & Coffee, Rainforest Alliance, Reginald Ames, Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa, Suntory, Tata Consumer Products GB Limited, Tea and Herbal Solutions Ltd., and Twinings.  

The consortium was led by the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada and the United Kingdom Tea & Infusions Association. 

Through combined industry expertise and on-the-ground experience, the consortium ensured the typology was both scientifically rigorous and practical for tea producers across different geographies and farming systems.  

This is the first time tea-specific agronomic data has been fully integrated into the widely used Cool Farm Platform, allowing for more accurate assessments of emissions within tea value chains. 

The introduction of the tea typology responds to the growing demand for reliable, crop-specific tools that support carbon reporting, regenerative agriculture, and industry-wide environmental goals.  

The initiative reflects the scientific leadership of the Cool Farm Alliance and the sector’s detailed knowledge of tea production systems. 

Shabnam Weber, President of the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada, said the new typology marks a key advancement for the global tea sector.  

Sharon Hall, Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Tea & Infusions Association, added that collaboration with the Cool Farm Alliance was instrumental in developing a tool aligned with the needs of tea producers. 

Consortium members are now working to harmonise data collection and establish unified training resources, with further improvements expected. 

With the typology now active on the Cool Farm Platform, tea stakeholders can begin using it to measure emissions, model agricultural impacts, track progress toward climate commitments, enhance reporting consistency, and compare emissions reduction outcomes across farms and regions. 

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