Sustainability

At MICHI, sustainability is at the heart of every decision we make. Our commitment to environmental, social, and governance principles aligns with the EU's SDG goals, ensuring that our operations promote a sustainable future while delivering the highest quality matcha to our customers.

Social Impact

We believe in creating positive social change and fostering long term supplier relationships and equitable communities.

Our initiatives include:

Direct Trade Practices: We ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for all farmers and workers involved in our supply chain, promoting economic stability and rural community development by consistent trading directly with family-owned businesses.
Consumer Education: By educating our customers on the many benefits of sustainable practices and the importance of environmental stewardship, we empower them to make informed choices.

Environmental responsibility

We recognise the urgent need to address climate change and environmental degradation. Therefore, we have implemented the following practices:

Sustainable Agriculture: Our matcha is sourced from organic and non-organic tea farms that practice responsible and regenerative agriculture. These methods aim to preserve biodiversity, maintain soil health, and keep chemical use to a minimum.
Carbon Footprint Reduction: We are committed to reducing our carbon emissions through energy-efficient operations, renewable energy sources, and carbon offset air freight and dominantly carbon-neutral B2C ground-transportation.
Waste Management: By promoting recycling and composting throughout our supply chain, we aim to achieve zero landfill in both production and packaging processes.

Products and packaging

1

Our matcha containers are made from tin alloy which can either be reused or continuously recycled without loosing quality.

2

Paper labels are made in the EU from FSC 100 paper and secured with recycled cotton, no toxic glues or solvents making them 100% biodegradable.

4

The FSC 100 wooden box and each individually sourced product from our range is hand-made by artisans and ethically sourced from either Japan & The Netherlands.

5

All our products and packaging are plastic free.

Governance and ethical business practices

Strong governance and ethical standards are the foundation of our business. We are dedicated to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement:

Transparent labeling
Ethical Sourcing: Our supply chain is rigorously, personally monitored to ensure ethical sourcing practices, preventing exploitation and promoting human rights.
Regulatory Compliance: We comply with all relevant environmental and social regulations, both in the EU and in Japan, striving to exceed legal requirements and set benchmarks for our industry.

EU Sustainable development goals

MICHI aligns with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By aligning with these goals we are motivated to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world while also enhancing the social and environmental impact of our operations.

These are the specific goals that we are currently focusing our processes on:

Good health
& well-being

Consumer Health: Promoting matcha,
a product with known health benefits, contributes to the well-being
of our customers.

Decent work
& economic growth

Direct Trade Practices: Ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for farmers and workers helps promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, productive employment, and decent work for all.

Responsible consumption
& production

Sustainable Practices: Reducing waste, and using eco-friendly packaging contribute to sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Climate action

Carbon Footprint Reduction: We have initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and use renewable energy sources.

Life on land

Biodiversity Conservation: Practicing responsible farming practices helps preserve ecosystems, prevent deforestation, and halt biodiversity loss.

Partnerships

Collaborative Efforts: Engaging with local communities, governments, and other stakeholders fosters partnerships.

What Our Clients Say

Continuous improvement

We do not consider sustainability a box ticking exercise, we recognise that it is our responsibility to conduct ongoing research into all aspects of our operations. By embracing these core principles, MICHI not only aims to contribute to the well-being of our planet and its people but also ensure the long-term viability of our business.

We invite our customers and partners to join us on this journey towards a more sustainable and equitable future. Want to learn more? Or have suggestions on how you think we can improve? Get in touch: hello@michitea.nl.