Kenya halts tea factories’ partnership with Rainforest Alliance over cost concerns

The Kenyan government has directed its tea factories to halt collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance, citing that the costs of obtaining the certification outweigh the benefits for local farmers.

Kenya, the world’s third-largest tea producer, says the financial burden is worsening the economic difficulties faced by smallholder farmers, Caliber.Az reports via The Guardian.

The Rainforest Alliance, recognized globally by its green frog logo, promotes ethically produced goods aimed at supporting “a better world”. 

However, Kenya’s agriculture principal secretary, Paul Ronoh, noted in a memo after an industry summit that the “burden of implementation” falls on tea factories and is then “passed down to tea farmers and growers.” He added that such costs “should ordinarily be met by the customers,” not producers.

According to a recent Fairtrade Foundation survey, only one in five Kenyan tea workers and farmers earn enough to cover basic household needs. The cost of certification — estimated at around $3,000 annually for smallholder-run factories — adds to these financial strains. Though the Rainforest Alliance oversees the certification process, it does not set fees charged by third-party auditors, which vary by farm size.

The Rainforest Alliance seal appears on nearly 240 brands, including popular UK teas like Tetley, PG Tips, and Yorkshire Tea, with about half of UK tea sourced from Kenya. Demand for ethical certification has grown due to concerns about issues such as low wages, unsafe working conditions, gender inequality, and environmental harm in tea-growing regions.

Critics argue that while Western buyers often demand certified tea, they rarely pay a premium. A Fairtrade Foundation report notes UK consumers spend more on coffee, but the average price of a teabag remains “just 2 or 3p,” despite rising production costs.

Ronoh stated the Rainforest Alliance logo “had not demonstrated solid impact commensurate to the costs of implementation,” leading to the suspension of the scheme with immediate effect.

In response, the Rainforest Alliance is engaging with Kenya’s State Department of Agriculture to “gain clarity and to work towards a joint resolution quickly.” It has assured farmers their certification remains valid until expiry, allowing them to continue selling certified tea.

The Kenyan government is also considering developing a local certification system with similar sustainability goals but lower costs and less administrative complexity.

The Ethical Tea Partnership, an NGO focused on tea sector challenges, expressed hope the suspension would be “short-lived” and stressed that certification is “a critical tool” for ensuring fair treatment of workers, farmers, and communities reliant on tea.

By Naila Huseynova