Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation

trustea is an Indian sustainability code and verification system for the Indian tea sector.

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Safer tea doesn't start in the cup—it starts right at the farm. ☕🌱

Meet our REGEN implementation champion Ankoor from Assam.

His work demonstrates how regenerative agriculture is not just a concept—it is about turning better practices into better decisions on the ground, every day.
Through Hindustan Unilever Limited’s (HUL) TeaNext program, implemented by trustea, Small Tea Growers (STGs) are being supported to restore soil health, reduce the dependance on chemical fertilizer, especially urea, and strengthen pesticide residue compliance.
The approach is simple:
Test the soil. Understand what it needs. Apply the right input, at the right dose. Protect the soil, and crop.
But translating regulations into everyday farming practices takes more than guidelines. It takes regular farm monitoring, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and continuous handholding. Here is how TeaNext is driving change on the ground:

🔹 Soil Testing: Establishing a soil-health baseline and enabling informed, need-based fertilizer application—while creating a foundation to measure impact over time.
🔹Alongside this, the application of on-farm produced mature compost helps improve soil organic matter and support a healthier soil microflora over time.
🔹 Responsible Pesticide Use: Building awareness around PPC and FSSAI regulations, correct application practices and adherence to Pre-Harvest Intervals (PHIs). The process is supplemented by integrated pest management, regular field monitoring and adoption of good agricultural practice.

And the support doesn’t stop with training.

Through field demonstrations, continuous handholding, and engagement with growers and Bought Leaf Factories (BLFs), TeaNext is helping translate knowledge, science and regulations into everyday farming practices.

TeaNext is helping build a safer, more sustainable tea ecosystem from the ground up.

#SustainableAgriculture #FoodSafety #TeaIndustry #HUL #trustea #SmallTeaGrowers #IPM #CropProtection #Agribusiness

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

🎊🎇Happy Diwali! 🎊🎇

Wishing you and your loved ones a festive season filled with joy, peace, and abundance! ✨

Let’s illuminate our homes with happiness and celebrate in ways that keep our planet green, healthy, and thriving. 🌿 Happy Festive Season! 🎉

#trustea #diwali #deepawali #happyfestives #sustainability #mindfulness #celebrations

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

🌿 Promoting Safe, Respectful, and Inclusive Tea Industry🌿

At trustea, we believe that sustainable tea production starts with safe and empowering environments for the people at the heart of the industry—our garden and factory workers.

We recently conducted a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Awareness Training session divided into two focused groups, ensuring every worker could actively engage, ask questions, and fully grasp the key learnings. The training specifically aimed at raising awareness among garden pluckers, reinforcing their rights and responsibilities.

Key Highlights from the Session:

🚫 Defining Harassment: Clear explanations on what constitutes workplace sexual harassment—from subtle unwanted behavior and inappropriate gestures to physical contact.

🤝 Building Respect: Emphasizing that both men and women play a vital role in creating a respectful, dignified, and comfortable work environment for all.

📢 Encouraging Voice & Action: Highlighting the importance of speaking up and providing clear information on reporting channels and worker rights under POSH.

By fostering awareness directly at the field level, we continue our commitment to promoting safe, respectful, and harassment-free working conditions across India's tea sector.

#trustea #POSHAwareness #POSH #WorkplaceSafety #TeaIndustry #WorkerWelfare #Empowerment #SustainableTea #GenderEquality #SafeWorkplace

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

🚀 TraceTea 2.0 is Now Live!

We are pleased to announce the successful launch of TraceTea 2.0, Trustea's enhanced digital traceability platform connecting Small Tea Growers, Lead Farmers, Agents, and Bought Leaf Factories through a single integrated ecosystem.

Key improvements include:
✅ Unified mobile application with role-based access
✅ Enhanced traceability from grower to factory
✅ Real-time data synchronization and validation
✅ Streamlined supply and challan management
✅ Improved reporting and operational visibility
✅ Stronger governance, security, and compliance controls

By reducing manual processes and improving transparency across the tea supply chain, TraceTea 2.0 enables better data accuracy, operational efficiency, and sustainability assurance for all stakeholders.

#trustea #TraceTea2.0 #TraceTea #Traceability #Unilever #AgriTech #SustainableTea #SmartFarming #Agriculture #SmallTeaGrowers #TeaIndustry #CropProtection #SustainableAgriculture

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Safety isn’t just a requirement at trustea—it’s our core commitment. 🍃👷‍♂️👷‍♀️

Meet our sustainability implementation champion A Nagaraj from Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.

From farm to factory, we are dedicated to building a safer, healthier, and more supportive environment for every worker across the tea supply chain. Under trustea Code Version 3.1, Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) is embedded into every daily operation through concrete action:

✅ Proactive Infrastructure & Gear: Well-maintained workspaces, mandatory PPE, machine safety guards, accessible fire extinguishers, and secure diesel storage.

✅ Clear Communication & Well-being: Localized warning signages for total clarity, alongside clean, safe drinking water in every section.

✅ Policy & Preparedness: Every entity operates under a formal OHS policy—supported by documented risk assessments, targeted action plans, periodic medical checkups, and hands-on emergency response training.

When safety comes first, the entire tea industry thrives. Watch the reel to see how these standards come to life on the ground! 👇

What OHS practices have made the biggest impact in your workplace? Let us know in the comments below!

#trustea #CodeV3.1.0 #OccupationalHealthAndSafety #OHS #WorkplaceSafety #SafetyFirst #WorkerWelfare #IndustrialSafety #TeaIndustry

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Unlocking the Power of Soil Microbiology: Nitrogen Mobilization in Tea Plantations 🌱🌱

Healthy soil isn't just about the nutrients we add—it’s about the soil biology that unlocks them for the plant.

In tea cultivation, nitrogen (N) is essential for shoot regeneration, vegetative growth, and overall yield. While reducing synthetic N-fertilizers reduces environmental strain, sustaining yields with less input requires one key shift: improving the soil’s biological capacity to cycle and supply nutrients.

This is where nitrogen-mobilizing bacteria step in. 🦠✨

By harnessing the power of biological nitrogen fixation and converting organic nitrogen into plant-available forms, these beneficial microorganisms act as a natural engine for soil fertility—allowing planters to maintain yields while optimizing synthetic inputs.

Under Hindustan Unilever Limited’s (HUL) Tea Regenerative Agriculture program, we are strengthening this biological engine through a holistic approach:

▶️Enriching Soil Structure: Applying mature, on-farm produced compost to boost organic matter.
▶️Integrating Nutrient Cycling: Combining organic compost with balanced nutrient management practices.
▶️Leveraging Biofertilizers: Utilizing quality biofertilizers with region-specific, native strains.
▶️Conserving Microclimates: Protecting soil moisture through strategic mulching and cover cropping.
▶️Measuring Impact: Tracking progress via lab-tested compost quality, regular soil testing, nutrient-use efficiency (NUE), and crop yield metrics.

By feeding the soil biology, we aren't just growing better tea—we are building long-term climate resilience and soil health for generations to come.

#trustea #RegenerativeAgriculture #Unilever #SustainableFarming #SoilHealth #TeaPlantations #SoilMicrobiology #Sustainability

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

🌱 Transforming Indian Tea Through Regenerative Agriculture

Can we boost tea productivity, restore soil health, and lower carbon emissions all at once? Through the Tea Regenerative Agriculture Program (REGEN)—funded by HUL and implemented by Trustea—we are proving it’s possible.

Scaled across Assam, West Bengal, and South India, REGEN is currently transforming 43,000+ hectares and empowering 7,000+ Small Tea Growers alongside major estates.

Our 4 Core Goals:
▶️Yield sustainability & growth
▶️Higher soil organic matter
▶️Reduced reliance on synthetic chemical inputs
▶️Lower carbon footprint

By equipping growers with practical tools and technical guidance, we are making regenerative farming achievable, measurable, and scalable.

It’s more than a shift in farming practices—it’s building a climate-resilient future for Indian tea. 🍵✨

#RegenerativeAgriculture #IndianTea #Sustainability #ClimateAction #SoilHealth #AssamTea #HUL #Trustea

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

What if the future of agriculture isn’t about adding more inputs—but making better decisions?

For too long, farming has been driven by volume: more fertilizers, more chemicals, more resources. It's time to shift from Input-Heavy to Knowledge-Heavy Farming.
Through Hindustan Unilever Limited’s TeaNext programme, we’re putting science-based farm management at the core of tea production:

🌱 Optimizing Fertilizer Use: Precision over excess to protect productivity and the environment.
🧪 Nurturing Soil Health: Building resilient, fertile ground for long-term yields.
♻️ Leveraging Local Resources: Maximizing what’s already available on the farm.

The future of tea farming isn't about using more. It’s about making every single input count. 🍃

#Agriculture #SustainableFarming #Innovation #TeaIndustry #Sustainability #trustea #Unilever #TeaNext #AgTech

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Advice alone doesn’t drive change on the farm. Proof does.

A regenerative agriculture practice only becomes meaningful when it moves off demonstration and into a farmer’s daily decisions.

Through Hindustan Unilever Limited’s TeaNext program, Demonstration Hubs are closing the gap between an idea and its widespread adoption. These hubs give small tea growers a dedicated space to:
See regenerative practices in real-world conditions
Learn the practical mechanics hands-on
Test & experience the results risk-free before applying them to their own fields

Real adoption doesn't happen through instructions on paper. It happens when farmers see the difference firsthand, trust the process, and make the practice their own.
From demonstration to daily adoption—that is the key of TeaNext Program to scaling impact across small tea growers.

#RegenerativeAgriculture #Sustainability #trustea #Unilever #TeaNext #SmallTeaGrower #SustainableFarming #SupplyChainImpact

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Can small, practical changes on a tea farm improve both land health and a farmer’s bottom line?

Through the TeaNext Program—funded by Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) and implemented by trustea—small tea growers are proving that sustainable agriculture doesn't need to be complex or expensive to deliver powerful results.

By shifting toward practical, regenerative farming techniques, growers are adopting high-impact practices that deliver immediate value:
🌱 Precision Tipping – Optimizing bush architecture and plucking tables for healthier growth.
🌾 Border Grasses – Securing topsoil to significantly reduce erosion during heavy rains.
🐛 Bio-Concoctions – Implementing natural pest management to lower reliance on synthetic chemicals.
🐄 Cow-Dung Slurry – Enhancing plant nutrition organically.

The Economic & Environmental Impact: These simple interventions do more than protect the environment—they improve nutrient cycling, produce stronger tea bushes, and cut down expensive external input costs.

When a farming practice is affordable, easy to implement, and yields visible farm-level benefits, adoption scales naturally through peer-to-peer learning across growing communities.
That is the ultimate goal of TeaNext: healthier farms, financially resilient growers, and a sustainable future for smallholder tea.
💬 How can low-cost, grower-led innovations better accelerate sustainable farming globally? Let’s discuss in the comments.

#trustea #TeaNext #Unilever #SustainableAgriculture #Smallteagrowers #RegenerativeAgriculture #TeaIndustry #SupplyChainSustainability

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Building Resilient Tea Estates Through Regenerative Agriculture

The Jay Shree Group has been one of the earliest partners in the HUL's Tea Regenerative Agriculture Programme, demonstrating a strong belief that regenerative practices are the key to building estate resilience and securing the long-term future of tea production.
The participating estates are embracing a wholesome approach towards soil health management by implementing :
♻️ On-Farm Compost Production — Enriching soil organically
🌿 Integrated Nutrient Management — Optimizing soil nutrient balance and mineralization
🌾 Green Manuring — Enhancing biological diversity
🌳 Shade Tree Infilling — Restoring microclimates, protecting ecosystems and adding organic matter to soil.

Jayshree Group's journey reflects a progressive mindset—recognizing that healthy soils are the foundation of resilient estates and sustainable tea value chains.
trustea deeply appreciates their commitment, partnership, and leadership in advancing regenerative agriculture in the Indian tea sector.

💬 Key Quote
"Environmental sustainability is the way forward for the tea industry... we would like to continue with the program as soil is the soul of the tea gardens."
— Ms. Maitreyi Kandoi, Jay Shree Tea & Industries Limited.

#trustea #Unilever #JayShreeTea #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableTea #SoilHealth #TeaSustainability #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateResilience #TeaIndustry #TeaForTheFuture

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

The National Seminar on 200 years of Assam Tea, was held in Dibrugarh College from 8th to 9th Oct. On behalf of trustea, Dr. Antara Bera submitted an abstract on the occasion and gave a presentation on the 8th, in the 'Sustainability & Environmental Challenges' segment to discuss about the midline findings from our Tea Regenerative Agriculture Program, fully funded by Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL).

🌱 Can regenerative agriculture save our morning cup of tea from climate change? 🍵

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is highly sensitive to climate stress. In Assam, annual rainfall has dropped by over 200 mm, and for every 1°C temperature rise above 26.6°C, tea yields fall by nearly 3.8%.

To tackle this challenge, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) and the Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation (TSTF) launched the Tea Regenerative Agriculture Program. Covering over 43,000+ hectares, and 7,000+ small tea growers, the program is proving that climate resilience and productivity can go hand in hand. 📈

Key findings from the 2026 midline evaluation reveal:

✨ Healthier Soils: Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) increased by ~5%, while beneficial soil microflora surged by 15–20% compared to the program baselines.
☕ Boosted Productivity: Despite rising climate stress, tea yields were not only sustained, they showed an upward trajectory, improving by up to 3%.
🌍 Lower Carbon Footprint: Optimized urea use and enhanced manure management led to a >21% reduction in GHG emissions (tracked via the Trustea Emission Calculator).

Through on-farm composting, mulching, integrated nutrient management, and shade-tree practices, this initiative presents a scalable roadmap for sustainable agriculture. With an ambitious goal to reach 100,000 hectares by 2030, the future of climate-resilient tea is looking bright! 🌿💡

#RegenerativeAgriculture #trustea #Unilever #DibrugarhUniversity #Dibrugarh #Assam #ClimateResilience #Sustainability #SoilHealth #Agriculture #TeaIndustry #abstract

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Reducing emissions is non-negotiable. But regeneration is the game-changer.

True sustainability isn't just about doing less harm—it’s about actively restoring the ecosystems that sustain us.

Through the Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) Tea Regenerative Agriculture Programme, we are putting this integrated approach into action:

📉 Reducing GHG emissions across tea plantations
🌱 Restoring soil health and boosting soil organic carbon
♻️ Recycling on-farm biomass to generate quality-mature compost
🛡️ Building resilient ecosystems for tea-growing communities

The future of tea depends not only on shrinking our carbon footprint; it also relies on revitalizing the natural capital behind every leaf.

The goal isn't merely to sustain what we have—it’s to regenerate what sustains us.

#RegenerativeAgriculture #Sustainability #trustea #Unilever #ClimateAction #SoilHealth #SupplyChain #FutureOfTea

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

🍃 At the heart of every sustainable cup of Indian tea lies a commitment to the earth and the hands that tend it. Leading this transformation from the ground up is trustea. ⏫

In a powerful collaboration 🤝 with Tata Consumer Products and key Bought Leaf Factories, trustea recently spearheaded an impactful initiative across Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. Across six interactive sessions, trustea directly empowered over 250 Small Tea Growers—equipping them with safer, eco-friendly, and future-ready farming practices and MRL Guidelines.

By building capacity at the roots, trustea is fostering safer ecosystems for growers, healthier soils for farms, and a higher quality tea for millions of consumers.

💡 Key Focus Areas Covered:
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Building awareness against the indiscriminate use of pesticides and emphasizing a strict ban on hazardous chemicals, particularly Monocrotophos.
Soil Health Management: Promoting soil-test-based judicious fertilizer application and on-farm compost manufacturing.
Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK): Integrating traditional, eco-friendly farming insights into modern plantation management.
📍 Recent Trainings:
Sept 21: Unique Tea Born Pvt Ltd (Mohitnagar, Jalpaiguri)
Sept 22: Satabdi Tea Processing Pvt Ltd (Talma Haat, Jahauri, Jalpaiguri)
Sept 23: Bajrang Tea Factory (Budharugaon, Bidhannagar, Darjeeling)
Sept 24: Buds Tea Industries Limited (Maynaguri, Jalpaiguri)
Sept 25: Highland Exim Pvt Ltd (Dulurchhat, Ghoshpukur, Darjeeling)
Sept 26: Himalayan Tea & Agro Pvt. Ltd (Budharugaon, Bidhannagar, Darjeeling)

Together, through capacity building, partner alignment, and sustainable ground-level practices, we are fostering a safer ecosystem for growers, healthier soils for farms, and higher quality tea for consumers.
Fostering safer practices, healthier soils, and higher-quality tea—together from ground to cup. 🍃

#SustainableTea #TeaIndustry #SmallTeaGrowers #trustea #TCPL #IntegratedPestManagement #SoilHealth #WestBengal #ResponsibleSourcing #Sustainability

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Every single cup of tea begins with a vital resource: Water☕💧

As climate change accelerates, water stewardship has transitioned from a choice to an absolute necessity for the agricultural sector. In India’s tea industry, sustainable practices are paving the way forward���and at the forefront of this transformation is the Trustea Code. Operating under its core pillars of Environment, Safety, and Livelihoods, the trustea standard ensures that tea cultivation and processing protect our most precious natural resources rather than depleting them.

Here is how trustea code champions water conservation across the tea value chain:

⏲️ Efficient Water Management: Optimizing water usage in both field cultivation and factory processing units to minimize waste.

🚫 Preventing Contamination: Implementing strict protocols to stop chemical runoff, reduce soil erosion, and protect local water bodies from pollution.

📈Building Resilience: Encouraging rainwater harvesting and regenerative farming practices to safeguard ground water tables in tea-growing regions.

True sustainability means ensuring that the journey from estate to cup respects and preserves our local ecosystems. Let’s continue to support transparent, responsible sourcing and climate-resilient agriculture! 🌱

#trustea #trusteacode #WaterConservation #SustainableTea #Agriculture #TeaIndustry #ResponsibleSourcing #ClimateAction

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

🌿 Transforming Tea Harvesting: Efficiency Meets Innovation!

Meet Songkam Youngkuk from Jagun, Tinsukia district in Assam, who manages a 30 bigha tea garden. In a recent demonstration, he shared how utilizing a mechanical tea-plucking machine is dramatically improving productivity and reshaping daily operations.

Here is a quick look at the impact:
Manual Plucking Output: Traditionally yields about 60 kg per day.
Machine Plucking Output: Significantly increases production to 250 to 300 kg per day.
Fine Leaf Percentage: Maintains a strong fine leaf percentage of 35% to 40%.

Embracing modern tools is a game-changer for scaling efficiency in traditional farming. What are your thoughts on integrating agri-tech into local agriculture? Let's discuss in the comments below! 👇

#trustea #AgriTech #smallteagrower #TeaGarden #AgricultureInnovation #AssamTea #FarmingTechnology #STGEmpowerment

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

🌱 Empowering Small Tea Growers for a Sustainable Future

Driving Sustainable Impact in Assam 🍃

Sustainability isn't just a goal—it’s a daily practice. 🌿

trustea, in collaboration with Krishna Tea Factory, conducted a hands-on training program in Assam to empower small tea growers with practical knowledge of sustainable farming practices and responsible tea cultivation.

The training covered key aspects such as Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and the use of Plant Protection Code (PPC)-approved chemicals. These learnings will help growers adopt Good Agricultural Practices, improve tea quality and safety, protect the environment, and enhance productivity.

🌱 Building knowledge and awareness about sustainability and producing legally compliant tea are essential steps in the trustea implementation process and towards achieving trustea certification. Such training initiatives help small tea growers understand certification requirements, adopt responsible good agricultural practices, and contribute to a safer, more sustainable, and transparent tea value chain.

We believe that collaboration, capacity building, and continuous learning are the keys to creating a sustainable future for tea community. We look forward to more such initiatives that empower small tea growers and drive positive change across the tea industry! ☕✨

#SmallTeaGrowers #SustainableTea #trustea #TeaIndustry #AssamTea #SafeTea #GoodAgriculturalPractices #KrishnaTeaFactory #MRL #IPM #Sustainability #TrusteaCertification #LegallyCompliantTea

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

🌱 Success Story: Regenerative Agriculture at Kilkotagiri and Thirumbadi Estate Limited, Nilgiris!

Cultivating Sustainability from the Ground Up!
🍃At Kilkotagiri and Thirumbadi Estate Limited sustainable tea cultivation is taking center stage through trustea’s Regenerative Agriculture Program, funded by Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). Since joining the program in 2025, they have been actively transforming farming practices to protect soil ecosystems and combat climate change.

Program Highlights & On-Ground Impact:
🧪Reduced Chemical Inputs: Achieved a 10% reduction in synthetic nitrogen application.
🌱Soil & Bush Health Improvement: Focused on enhancing soil biological health and tea bush vitality while lowering the overall carbon footprint of the garden.
🍃Regenerative Practices: Integrating compost application to boost soil microbes.

💬 Key Quote
"Trustea is also testing the soil samples to evaluate the midterm impact of the programme. This programme has been highly beneficial for long term sustainability of our plantation."
— K.S.Nanjappa, Senior Manager, Kilkotagiri and Thirumbadi Estate Limited.

#trustea #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableTea #SoilHealth #TeaSustainability #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateResilience #TeaIndustry #Unilever #TeaForTheFuture

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Waste or Resource? In regenerative tea production, compost is the ultimate asset. 🍃

Through HUL’s Tea Regenerative Agriculture Program, organic biomass and animal manure are no longer discarded as waste. Instead, they are transformed into rich compost right on the farm and returned directly to the soil.

This biological loop delivers critical soil-health benefits:
Increases Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)
Fuels vital soil microbial activity
Optimizes natural nutrient cycling
Improves soil structure and resilience

By turning organic residues into biological assets, we close the nutrient loop and secure the future of regenerative tea cultivation.

#RegenerativeAgriculture #Sustainability #trustea #Unilever #Compost #SustainableFarming #SupplyChainImpact

[Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation @TrusteaF]

Progress in action: Implementing trustea Code Version 3.1.0 in Bought Leaf Factory! 🍃

True sustainability starts on the factory floor. By adopting the latest trustea Version 3.1.0 guidelines, we are advancing our commitment to:
⚡ Energy Efficiency in factory operations
🛡️ Work Safety & Hazard controls
🧼 Strict Food Safety & hygiene standards
⚖️ Fair Rights, Lawful Wages & open communication
🎓 Regular Training to empower our workforce
Sustainable tea is defined by the integrity behind its production. We are proud to lead by example and build a safer, more sustainable future for the tea sector! ☕

#trustea #CodeVersion3.1.0 #SustainableTea #WorkerWelfare #TeaIndustry #FoodSafety #Sustainability