But our understanding of “sustainability” goes beyond that.
For us, sustainability also means:
We have always believed that a truly sustainable cup of tea is not only low-carbon and plastic-free—
it is also about sustaining the relationship between people and nature, people and the land, and people and culture.
1.Safeguarding traditional tea-making crafts that are on the verge of disappearing;
2.Protecting seed-propagated tea trees that have evolved naturally over time;
3.Promoting responsible harvesting and ecological management of wild and ancient tea trees;
4.Ensuring that the craftsmanship of tea farmers in remote mountains is respected, and that their labor receives more stable returns.
Our 8 Key Actions for Environmental Protection and Sustainability
We are a small team, but we firmly believe that environmental protection should not be the sole responsibility of big brands.
Through practical, step-by-step efforts, we are building a small yet genuine sustainability roadmap for Chinese tea.
Scroll through the slideshow below to explore.
1. Ancient Tea Tree Ecological Rescue Program
In the remote mountains of Guangxi, some ancient tea trees are on the verge of disappearing due to natural disasters, pests, and land development. In collaboration with the Guangxi Tea Research Institute, we have established an ancient tea tree conservation zone in Longsheng County, Guangxi.
We carry out scientific and centralized management of these scattered tea trees, relocating them when necessary, and employing professionals to treat diseases and restore their vitality. As a natural heritage passed down through generations, we hope these ancient trees can continue to thrive.
To date, we have successfully protected over 2,000 century-old tea trees. Our conservation methods are rooted in nature—we do not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers, ensuring that the trees grow in a pure and natural environment. We harvest only once a year, allowing these ancient trees to flourish in their natural state.
2. Sustainable Use of Wild Tea Forests
Since 2015, iTeaworld has been committed to protecting wild tea trees in Guilin, Guangxi. We manage a 4-million-square-meter ecological conservation area, where tea trees grow naturally within the forest, free from human interference.
We harvest only once a year in this vast tea forest to avoid overharvesting and minimize ecological disruption. The annual yield is limited to just 300 kilograms. At the same time, we promote sustainable growth by turning ecological value into economic value—through refined processing and brand storytelling—to boost the local tea economy and raise awareness about wild tea conservation among local communities.
3. Supporting Tea Farmers in Remote Mountain Areas and Promoting Fair Collaboration
We are committed to working directly with tea farmers, eliminating middlemen to ensure they receive more substantial income
and have opportunities to improve their tea-making techniques.
Wild tea is harvested only once per year—or even just once in total—
and we fully understand, respect, and practice this low-intervention, sustainable harvesting rhythm.
Tea farmers are both pickers and artisans;
we either refine the raw tea leaves further or purchase fresh leaves directly and complete the processing in our own facility.
Some farmers in remote areas have access to excellent raw tea materials but may lack advanced processing skills.
For these partners, we are planning to offer meaningful support, including:
Providing professional and technical training for farmers in remote tea-growing regions
Upgrading and improving traditional tea-making equipment
Offering 100 jin (about 50 kg) of charcoal for free to help preserve traditional charcoal-roasting techniques
4. Preserving Traditional Craftsmanship: Keeping Mountain Artistry Alive
We respect and support the continuation of traditional handcrafted tea-making techniques from various regions. Many of these skills were once on the verge of disappearing due to generational gaps, but are now being preserved through our collaboration with local tea farmers and veteran tea masters.
Through our efforts, we hope to encourage young people from mountain areas to return to their hometowns, reclaim their family traditions, and carry forward these time-honored crafts—with economic support driving cultural preservation.
5. Transitioning to Organic Tea Gardens: Moving Toward a Purer Tea Ecosystem
Our own tea gardens are currently undergoing the organic certification process. We have not used pesticides for many years and are continuously working on soil improvement and ecological restoration, aiming to achieve official organic certification in the near future.
We also plan to assist tea farmers in remote regions with soil improvement. Although many of their gardens have been pesticide-free for decades, trace residues can still exist due to environmental factors. Through scientific methods, we hope to help restore their soil health and support their transition to fully organic cultivation.
6. Upholding Traditional Farming：Promoting Seed-Propagated Varieties(Qunti Variety) to Support Diverse and Ecological Choices
As modern tea production increasingly shifts toward “clonal varieties + chemical fertilizers + standardized harvesting,” we remain committed to traditional farming practices, with a focus on promoting tea gardens cultivated from naturally seed-propagated heirloom varieties.
These gardens are not densely planted and regenerate naturally. With deep root systems, the tea trees are more resistant to cold and disease, require no chemical fertilizers, and can self-regulate their nutrient supply—forming a highly self-sustaining ecological system.
In such heirloom gardens, a single acre may contain dozens of tea trees with distinctly different genetic traits, creating a natural “gene pool” that is more resilient to pests, diseases, and climate fluctuations.
7. Packaging Optimization for Environmental Protection: Preserving Aroma While Reducing Plastic
We have made the following efforts in our product packaging:
tea bags are made from compostable corn fiber materials; all printing uses soy-based inks; paper is FSC-certified eco-friendly paper;
metal tins are made from food-grade environmentally friendly materials; gift boxes offer an “eco-friendly simplified” version.
Customers have raised concerns about over-packaging, and we have begun gradually optimizing by developing reusable bulk sample packaging and more.
Although some plastic sealing remains unavoidable (such as for airtight requirements in some loose leaf sample packs),
we are consistently advancing in reducing plastic use, simplifying packaging, and designing with environmental protection in mind.
8. Green Upgrades in Packaging Methods: Starting with a Single Strip of Tape
We are gradually improving our packaging methods by:
Replacing plastic tape with eco-friendly tape;
Reducing foam usage and increasing the use of recycled paper for cushioning;
Offering simplified packaging options to cut down on excess packaging;
Encouraging customers to combine orders for consolidated shipping.
We have also received valuable suggestions from tea enthusiasts, such as providing loose samples and further reducing over-packaging.
We will continue to optimize step by step and warmly welcome more feedback as we work together to ease the burden on the environment.
Packaging Design
Biodegradable-Corn-Tea-Bags
Welcome to Join Us in Building a Sustainable Tea World
As a small team just starting out, we recognize that we still have much to improve. Sustainability is a long-term journey that requires shared understanding and collaboration.
We are willing to keep experimenting, optimizing, and warmly welcome suggestions and supervision from every tea lover.
If you have any advice or interest in cooperating with us, please feel free to reach out! :) 🌱
Let’s work together to make the world of tea greener, more authentic, and better.
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