What is Sustainability? And Why is Sustainability Important?

The term ‘sustainability’ is popularly used as advertising slang by businesses wanting to appear greener, leaving the actual meaning of sustainability misunderstood. Come with us as we discuss what sustainability means and how your support of sustainable businesses helps slow the overconsumption of natural resources.

What Does Sustainable Mean?

The term sustainability has had many varying definitions for years, but it most was famously defined at the 1987 United Nations Brundtland Commission as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet those needs.” By this definition, sustainability is understood as a harmonious balance between humans and nature so that both can thrive and live to tomorrow.

This requires sufficient care to be given to the natural environment. Since everything humans need to survive stems from it, sustainable living calls for individuals and companies to support the current and future prosperity of the natural environment.

Individually, sustainable living asks for small changes in everyday practices. To reduce clothing waste, you can shop second-hand and avoid fast fashion companies. To limit pollution, you can avoid plastic and purchase reusable, limit water consumption, and limit cars on the road through carpooling and public transport. To keep the earth and yourself free from harmful chemicals, you can shop from USDA certified organic businesses like Fraser Tea.

But businesses have much higher expectations when they commit to sustainable development.

Corporate Sustainability and The Triple Bottom Line

Corporate sustainability  is when a company generates profit while considering their impact on society and the environment. It is often taught through the triple bottom line approach.

The triple bottom line is when a company measures its environmental impact, social impact, and profit as the measures for the company’s success. These measures are referred to as the ‘three Ps’ of the triple bottom line: people, planet, profit.

This holistic approach goes against the traditional goals of a business, maximizing profit while minimizing cost and risk. It is a transformational internal policy that recognizes the power of businesses to make positive changes.

In practice, corporate sustainability is found in the guidelines and the actions of a company. Sustainable goals are built into business strategy, so all efforts of the company are led with a holistic view. Companies should follow those goals with action in production, like limiting plastic use, improving energy efficiency, prioritizing repairing and recycling over waste, using local suppliers and avoiding middlemen, and constantly innovating to ensure efficient processes.

Above all, good sustainable companies are transparent in their processes, meaning they don’t just say they’re doing good work; they show it.  

Our Sustainable Practices

At Fraser Tea we have sustainability built into our company’s foundation. As one of our four core values, sustainability is factored into every action our company takes.

We are an USDA certified organic company, meaning the farms we source from are free of pesticides that harm you and pollute the environment. We are proud to say that all our teas are organic; try a selection of our favorite organic teas with the Signature Blend Tea Sampler.

Fraser Tea is also a certified B-corporation, meaning we have met rigorous standards that ensure we are committed to benefitting the three Ps in every tea bag we make. We are continuously developing to make our production process and products as earth and community friendly as possible.

We offer loose tea as a drinking option, so at Fraser Tea you can enjoy your tea with minimal waste. We also offer reusable ways to brew that tea, like our tea infuser.

Along with sustainability, one of our core values is being a farm-direct company. This means that all our tea is sourced directly from the farms that grow it, avoiding the waste that comes with middlemen. We also personally visit every farm we source from to ensure humanitarian treatment of the workers.

Fraser Tea is tea from the earth to your cup, and we continually work hard to keep the earth, the community, and our business healthy.