Canadian, female-owned tea maker, Pluck, announced today that it is the first tea company in the world to achieve Upcycled Certified Product Status by the Upcycled Food Association (UFA) and Where Food Comes From. Five of the brand’s innovative, premium teas, made with locally-sourced ingredients, have received the seal of approval. Founded 10 years ago by Tea Sommelier, Jennifer Commins, Pluck has been disrupting the tea industry by prioritizing sustainability and ethical trade with its unique hand-blended, small-batch teas.
“More than half of consumers want to buy more upcycled foods,” said Angie Crone, CEO, UFA. “We are pleased to be expanding the upcycled certification into the tea category with Pluck leading the charge. Having this certification on select products allows consumers to identify and make more informed purchasing decisions that align with their values.”
In 2020, the Upcycled Food Association approximated that $1 trillion of food is wasted or lost globally per year (1). Companies that upcycle to reduce food waste are helping to reimagine supply chains across the world. This process allows brands to partner with fellow food makers to incorporate high-quality ingredients that may have otherwise been discarded.
“At Pluck, we are constantly looking for new ways to ensure our products are in line with our overall sustainable ethos,” said Jennifer Commins, CEO & Founder, Pluck. “Gaining the UFA’s upcycling certification is another clear step towards our ‘Tea for Good’ commitment. Our goal is to continue to prioritize globally impactful business decisions and reduce our carbon footprint wherever possible while providing a high-quality, delicious and reliable end product.”
A selection of key ingredients in Pluck’s premium upcycled blends would typically be imported, however, by working with local partners, the Toronto-based tea brand can maximize the life cycle of these foods. The Pluck team engages local juicers, vineyards, orchards and other small businesses to work together in a mutually beneficial manner. For example, the cacao shells that are featured in Pluck’s Chocolate Chai blend are sourced from a local bean-to-bar chocolate maker, ChocoSol, eliminating an additional shipment from suppliers and its environmental impacts.
Pluck’s Upcycled Certified teas include Citrus Ginger, Southbrook Berry Blend, CTRL+ALT+DEL, Chocolate Chai and After Dinner Mint. Pluck’s upcycled ingredients include:
- Citrus peel, saved and immediately dried by Chaser’s Juice in Toronto, featured in Citrus Ginger and CTRL+ALT+DEL.
- Grape skins, saved by the winemaker at Southbrook Vineyards in Niagara, featured in Southbrook Berry Blend
- Cacao shells, reserved and roasted by a local bean-to-bar chocolatier, featured in Chocolate Chai and After Dinner Mint
Pluck is currently developing new partnerships and drying processes, and looks forward to adding more upcycled ingredients and blends in the near future.