Giving back 1% for the planet

As members of 1% for the Planet, we give 1% of everything we sell to environmental and social initiatives.

It’s part of our own campaign for positive change. Just by buying our incredible organic tea and wellbeing supplements, you are helping to care for this beautiful earth. You buy, we give back. So thank you to every Pukka customer – together we are doing something really special.

Why do we support 1% for the Planet?

We do this because our precious planet really needs our help. The scale of environmental challenges we face is vast, from climate change to micro-plastic pollution.

The need for planetary action is real and pressing, but there is a problem.  Globally, only 3% of philanthropic giving goes to the environment. The non-profit 1% for the Planet, is on a mission to change that by bringing investment and doers together to accelerate smart environmental giving.  Their intent is to help fund a diverse range of environmental organisations so that collectively they can be a more powerful source in solving the world’s problems.

What do we give?

Every year since 2016, Pukka has given 1% of our sales (not profit) to environmental and social initiatives.

Pukka’s 1% for the Planet giving is made up of four areas:

• The fair premiums we pay to our farmers and growers when we purchase our ingredients, via our commitments to fair sourcing certifications; Fair For Life and FairWild. The fair premiums go directly to growers to spend on self-managed local community projects.

• Certification fees paid to our certifiers (e.g. Soil Association, Fair For Life), organisations working tirelessly to engage others in protecting the environment.

• Support for Pukka’s global non-profit partner, TreeSisters, with whom we have funded planting of 1,000,000 trees in Madagascar and Nepal.

• Support for local in country non-profits in Pukka’s largest markets. For example, we have projects in the UK with the Soil Association and Eden Project, in the Netherlands with The Pollinators, in Belgium with Natuurpunt and Natagora, and in the USA with Soul Fire Farm.

Here’s more about the impact some of these projects have had:

Helping to protect the Great Pied Hornbill and bibhitaki trees

Triphala is a traditional digestive tonic used in some of our teas and supplements. It’s made using bibhitaki and haritaki fruit collected in the Western Ghats in India by our supply partner, Nature Connect India. The trees on which these fruits grow are part of the rich ecosystem in one of the world’s most biodiverse areas, home to rare animals and birds, including the great pied hornbill.

But these trees are under threat. Their timber is valuable and tempting to local landowners who are struggling to make ends meet. However, with FairWild certification collecting nuts and fruits is more lucrative and people are incentivised to protect the trees. Pukka's long term purchase contracts have ensured the sustainability of this enterprise. In simple terms, FairWild and Pukka have helped Nature Connect India change the perspective of indigenous communities in the Western Ghats who have started looking at their forests as a source of sustainable income, conditional on them conserving and nurturing these resources. Our sourcing of these fruits provides jobs for many locals, who work to collect, process and sort the fruits for a fair wage. In all over 100 people are involved in collecting bibhitaki and haritaki and they and their family members benefit from a sustainable income. There are now 37 certified FairWild collection areas managed by Nature Connect India, protecting forests and the hugely diverse flora and fauna that inhabits it.

Women as a force of nature, on behalf of nature

TreeSisters is a registered charity that exists to elicit collective responsibility for planetary restoration at the grassroots level with a focus on women’s empowerment and tropical reforestation.

Pukka has funded planting of 1,000,000 trees through TreeSisters. Every time you buy Pukka products you are helping make this possible.

Pukka’s trees are planted in Madagascar and Nepal, creating ecological and social benefits including soil restoration, the liberation of communities from extreme poverty and the protection of critically endangered animals through habitat restoration.

Inspiring visitors at the Eden Project

We have worked with the Eden Project since 2015, sharing a passion for connecting people, plants and the planet. Together, we have developed exhibits and activities where people can immerse themselves in the wonderful world of herbs. We invite visitors to taste our herbal teas and learn more about the plants we blend at the giant tea box installation, and explore the role business can play in supporting our environment in the Rainforest Biome.

So look for the 1% logo when you shop and even consider becoming a 1% member yourself. Together we can achieve so much more than we can alone.