Brewing Change for 20 Years: Why Sustainability is Still at the Heart of Suki Tea

April 28th, 2025 | Other

We’re delighted to share a special guest blog from our friends at Suki Tea. Co-founder Oscar Woolley takes us on a journey through two decades of passion, purpose, and positive change — from humble beginnings at Belfast’s St George’s Market to becoming one of the UK and Ireland’s leading sustainable tea brands.

Our partnership with Suki Tea is built on shared values: a commitment to ethical sourcing, sustainability, and doing business the right way. Oscar’s story captures that spirit perfectly – and shows how great tea can make a real difference, one brew at a time. Now, over to Oscar Woolley, Co-founder of Suki Tea, to share their journey and values.

By Oscar Woolley, Co-founder, Suki Tea

Twenty years ago, my co-founder Annie Irwin and I were walking into Belfast city centre, talking about life and work. We were both craving something more meaningful than the traditional 9-to-5, something with purpose. That walk turned into a business plan, and that plan became Suki Tea.

Fast forward to today, and we’re proud to be celebrating our 20th anniversary as one of the UK and Ireland’s most sustainable and recognisable speciality tea brands. What began as a stall at St George’s Market in Belfast has grown into a brand with international reach, supplying thousands of cafés, retailers and hospitality venues. All driven by our founding ethos: to do business better.

co-founders Oscar Woolley (left) and Anne Irwin (right)

Sustainability from the start

Sustainability has always been in our DNA. We were early adopters of Fairtrade and Real Living Wage practices, and we’ve continually pushed ourselves to lead on environmental and ethical standards in the tea industry.

We believe great tea shouldn’t come at the cost of people or the planet. That mindset led us to become a certified B Corp in 2024. We were Northern Ireland’s first tea company to achieve this milestone, and one of just a handful across the UK and Ireland. For us, B Corp wasn’t just a badge. It validated years of work behind the scenes, from responsible sourcing and carbon reduction to team wellbeing and plastic-free packaging.

And we’re not stopping there.

From plastic-free to glue-free

In 2023, we moved into our new purpose-built Eco Factory near Belfast. It runs on up to 100% wind energy, with solar panels generating around 17% of our electricity and heating. It’s a space that reflects our values, right down to the artwork on the walls created by local art students we’ve supported through creative grants.

One of our proudest achievements has been going plastic-free and now, we’re going even further. This year, we’re eliminating glue-backed labels, which were one of our biggest sources of waste. Instead, we’re printing directly onto compostable bags – small changes that make a big impact.

It’s all part of our mission to keep improving. Our team has completed plastic audits, undergone Climate Action training with Business in the Community, and hosted placement students from Queen’s University Belfast to help analyse our carbon footprint. We even plan our tea shipments up to two years in advance to reduce transport emissions.

A shared ethos with Matthew Algie

One of the most pivotal moments in our journey came in 2006, when we met the team at Matthew Algie at a trade show in Dublin. They saw potential in our loose-leaf teas and invited us to Glasgow to pitch. That meeting changed everything.

Since then, our long-standing partnership with Matthew Algie has helped Suki Tea reach more cafés, coffee shops, and tea drinkers across the UK and Ireland. But beyond business, what’s always mattered most is our shared ethos. Like us, Matthew Algie is known for its commitment to ethical sourcing, sustainability, and industry leadership.

Together, we’re proving that speciality beverages can be a force for good.

Lessons from speciality coffee

When we started Suki Tea, our goal was to bring the same care and curiosity to tea that we saw in speciality coffee. The coffee industry has long set the bar for ethical sourcing, transparency, and barista education and tea is finally catching up.

As a board member of the European Speciality Tea Association, I’m proud to see tea professionals, including baristas, embracing sustainability and quality with the same enthusiasm. At Suki, we’re committed to this movement – championing Fairtrade, empowering farmers, and continually raising standards in every part of the supply chain.

What’s next?

We’ve come a long way in 20 years, but we’re just getting started.

This anniversary year marks a new chapter for Suki Tea. Alongside our B Corp certification, we have exciting plans for a brand refresh and further growth across retail, hospitality and e-commerce – not just in the UK and Ireland, but internationally.

Today’s tea drinker is more informed than ever. They care about where their tea comes from, how it’s made, and the impact it has. At Suki Tea, we’re ready to meet and exceed those expectations, with bold flavours, responsible sourcing, and total transparency.

Because ultimately, tea is about connection. It’s about taking a moment, sharing a story, and making life that little bit better. And for Annie and me, it truly has transformed our lives.

Here’s to the next 20 years of brewing change.

To find out more about Suki Tea, visit www.suki-tea.com