Sustainability is at our core: PLASTIC-FREE packaging

One Cup of Porridge: 20,000 Bright Starts

A warm, fortified cup of porridge helps children on the tea gardens start their school day ready to learn. SUKI TEA is aiming to provide 20,000 cups this year—and you can help us get there.

£416.0 Total of 8,320.0 cups of porridge

Target: 20,000 cups (42%)

Select Amount:

£0.50 makes 10 cups

RECOMMENDED £1.00 makes 20 cups

£5.00 makes 100 cups

About the Campaign:

Kids don’t tend to drink tea, but here in SUKI HQ we are constantly reminded of the expanding root system of our trade with tea gardens across the globe and the families we work with as we live and breathe alongside these communities, every time we think about a cup of tea. The children, at the heart of these tea communities, are the focus of TEA KIDS— making a positive impact beyond 'Big Leaf Big Flavour' tea.

We’re proud to announce project TEA KIDS, our charitable initiative focused on providing fortified nourishment towards a better future, helping children in tea-growing communities for a fairer world. We are committed to making the UN Sustainable Development Goals a reality.

SDG1nopoverty #SDG2zerohunger #SDG3 goodhealthandwellbeing #SDG4qualityeducation #SDG5genderequality

Let us introduce you to the heart-warming One Cup of Porridge project and how choosing SUKI does better for the tea community.

The One Cup of Porridge Project:

‘Every child is born with a curiosity about the world around them, but they need the right balance of support to help them learn and to grow. Above all, children need roots of learning in place so that they can thrive and flourish’ - Annie.

Every time you choose SUKI TEA you are helping us donate to Tea KidsTM ‘One Cup of Porridge’ program, providing pre-school tea kid children with a fortified cup of porridge, 'breakfast in a cup', in a safe and nutritious learning environment. And in turn, enabling their parents to work, especially mothers, knowing their children are in a place where their ‘roots’ of learning can happily, and safely, grow. To date, our donations have provided over 100,000 cups.

One Cup of Porridge project is based in Rwanda, one of our most esteemed tea gardens we regularly source from. Through this initiative, we support local organisations in tea-growing regions to provide 'breakfast in a cup' to children in a pre-school environment. This vital nutrition helps support healthy development and fuels their dreams. The TEA KIDS goal is to expand projects like One Cup further afield to other tea gardens and growing regions that we have worked closely with for decades in our sourcing.

In tea-growing areas, communities face socio-economic challenges, and children often bear the brunt of food insecurity. By supporting TEA KIDS and the One Cup of Porridge project, we directly address this issue. Together, we strive to make a positive impact, ensuring that children have access to a nutritious meal, fuelling their potential for a brighter future.

Choosing SUKI Does Better:

When you choose SUKI TEA, you actively contribute to the well-being of the tea community. By supporting our brand, you join us in our commitment to ethical sourcing, fairly traded goods, and sustainability. We work directly with tea farmers, ensuring fair wages and supporting environmentally friendly practices. With SUKI, you make a conscious choice that does better for the tea whole community.

Empowering Tea Farmers:

SUKI TEA believes in empowering tea farmers and promoting social progress. Through fair trade practices, we build strong, sustainable partnerships, fostering long-term relationships based on mutual respect. By choosing SUKI, you become part of this journey, positively impacting the lives of tea farmers and their families. Together, we can create a more equitable tea industry.

We operate day to day aspiring to grow a community dedicated to making a difference. Your simple act of enjoying a cup of tea transcends boundaries, creating positive change and supporting the well-being of children in tea-growing communities. Together, let's raise our cups and spread the message of a brighter and more equitable future for all.

Thanks, maybe next time

SUSTAINABILITY IS AT OUR CORE: PLASTIC-FREE PACKAGING

Suki: Packaging and Sustainability explained

Many customers ask us about our tea and its packaging, whether it’s plastic-free and where it can be recycled, so we’ve answered all your questions in one place. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to know how to responsibly dispose of your SUKI packaging once you've enjoyed your favourite cup of tea.

Biodegradable vs Compostable: What’s the Difference?

There’s often confusion between the terms biodegradable and compostable, but they’re not quite the same.

Biodegradable materials break down naturally with the help of micro-organisms. However, this process can take years, and in some cases (like certain plastics) it results in microplastics, posing further environmental harm. Unfortunately, some brands use the term "biodegradable" to greenwash their products, which can mislead eco-conscious consumers.

Compostable materials, on the other hand, break down into natural elements, such as water, carbon dioxide and biomass and can be safely returned to the earth. They generally require specific composting conditions to break down efficiently. Some are suitable for home composting, but others need industrial composting environments (such as council or commercial food waste services).

Our Commitment to Sustainable Packaging

We’ve worked hard to ensure that Suki’s packaging is as environmentally friendly as the tea it holds. From 2025 onward, all our packaging is fully compostable. In addition, all our labels are now pre-printed as part of our latest rebrand, reducing material use and eliminating the need for additional adhesives.

Here’s a breakdown of each packaging element:

Loose Leaf Tea

Our loose leaf blends are 100% natural and suitable for home composting or disposal in your food waste bin.

Pyramid Tea Bags

Our pyramid tea bags are made from Soilon (a corn-starch-based material), paper, and yarn. They are completely plastic-free and industrially compostable, breaking down in as little as 12 weeks under the right conditions. While Soilon can be added to your home compost bin, it’s more effective in commercial composting systems.

These bags are fully compliant with EN13432 and carry the OK Compost certification.

Pyramid Envelopes

Our pyramid envelope wrappers currently contain a thin plastic lining. We’re actively working with our suppliers to source a sustainable alternative and are committed to eliminating this plastic layer as soon as possible.

Inner Retail Bags

These clear inner bags may look like plastic, but they’re actually Natureflex: a film made from cellulose derived from sustainably sourced wood pulp. They are both home and industrially compostable and certified with EN13432 and OK Home Compost standards.

Outer Retail Boxes

Our outer boxes are made from FSC- or PEFC-certified cardboard and printed locally in Northern Ireland. They are either pre-printed with vegetable-based inks or finished with paper-based labels, supporting our plastic-free goals. These boxes can be recycled via standard council recycling collections.

Foodservice & Large Bags

We’re especially proud of our new triple-layer compostable foodservice bags, they offer excellent protection for our teas while being kind to the planet. These bags are:

Industrially compostable in as little as 12 weeks
Home compostable in 12–26 weeks
Fully certified to EN13432 and OK Home Compost standards

Tin Tea Caddies

Our tin caddies are reusable, refillable, and feature a biodegradable seal and beautifully printed paper label. Once finished, simply remove the label and recycle the tin via your local recycling collection, tin is infinitely recyclable.

No Food Waste Collection? No Problem!

If your area doesn’t offer a food waste collection, why not start your own compost bin? Garden centres and DIY shops stock affordable compost bins that are easy to set up. Alternatively, contact your local MP to highlight the importance of sustainable waste systems.

Recycling guidelines can vary across the UK, so always check with your local council for accurate information. We’re fortunate that in Belfast and across Northern Ireland, residential food waste collections are widely available. At HQ, we’ve taken it one step further, our entire office, factory, and warehouse are now zero waste to landfill thanks to a new commercial waste service.