These are difficult times for Sri Lanka. Our colleagues and their families are being hit hard by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. There are huge shortages in basic needs such as food, medicine and fuel. Do you want an insight into the crisis in Sri Lanka? Our colleague Soo Bosman once shared this video (about 6 minutes) from our Sri Lankan friends via Linkedin.
Are you contemplating to help the Sri Lankans? Your help is more than welcome. Buying tea directly from a Sri Lankan company is not only good for helping Sri Lankans, it also impacts sustainability in general tremendously.
It makes such difference that you buy Ceylon tea directly from a Sri Lankan company. Not a part, but all profits from everything you buy from Dilmah Europe goes back to Sri Lanka. Dilmah has scaled up its humanitarian projects and is doing everything possible to bring relief to the local population.
Here are a 5 tips, with which you can make a difference for Sri Lankans:
- Consider a holiday to Sri Lanka (but be well prepared, DYOR).
- Consider a remote Sri Lankan colleague for your project, who you can easily hire through Upwork;
- Continue to order your favorite tea from Dilmah 💚
- Write a review for Dilmah to inspire others to buying tea directly from Sri Lankans;
- Share our story in your community, network and at work to inspire them to buying tea from a Sri Lankan company.*
*Need help explaining to your community why buying tea directly from a Sri Lankan company makes such a big difference and why this is also the most sustainable choice? We have listed the top 10 reasons why.
10 reasons why Dilmah is the most sustainable Ceylon tea:
1. Dilmah is origin-owned.
This means that all profits (and not just a few percent) from all Dilmah teas end up in the country of origin, where they strengthen the economy, protect nature and serve the people. Sri Lankans own the profits from their tea and can take sustainability measures far more effectively than if a foreign charity organisation came along with a handout telling us how it should be spent.
2. Dilmah invests in biodiversity.
Wherever possible, Dilmah plants other plants among its tea bushes to counteract monoculture. Crops such as ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and cashew are grown on the tea plantations. Therefore, not everything can be officially certified as organic, as inspectors will only certify a tea field with one crop. Be assured that Dilmah's tea without organic certification is treated in the same way (or even more naturally) as the tea with certification.
3. Dilmah gives pieces of tea plantation back to the jungle.
Dilmah's wilderness programme allows parts of the land to go wild so that wildlife can pass through and the soil can recover. Normal (commercial) tea farmers cannot do this because their customers buy on price, not on quality.
4. Dilmah encourages the use of biochar;
on more and more Dilmah plantations, biochar ovens are being built to process agricultural waste into natural plant nutrients. This process stores CO2 and returns it to the soil.
5. Dilmah has its own climate research centre.
This is the only 'privately owned climate change research centre' in the world. It actively researches the best ways for agriculture to prepare for the consequences of climate change. This centre helps the entire agricultural sector in Sri Lanka.
6. Dilmah feeds, educates & cares for more than 5000 workers and their families in Sri Lanka.
In times of crisis such as the pandemic, no one is laid off and caring for the people is number 1.
7. Dilmah celebrates & empowers diversity
People with Down's syndrome, autism or a disability are given the opportunity to build a dignified life through Dilmah's many dignified empowerment programmes. For example, Dilmah has long sponsored the national cricket team of blind cricketers.
8. Dilmah's entire operation is Carbon Neutral certified since 2017.
We are now carbon neutral right up to the port of arrival. We are on track to be climate positive by 2030 through continuous expansion of our own hydropower plants and use of solar energy, among others.
9. Dilmah is a role model for Sri Lankan talent
giving them the confidence to develop their talents beyond agriculture. Dilmah is the tangible proof that Sri Lanka is not just a supplier of raw materials, as in the colonial era, but can add value and build brands.
10. Dilmah spreads love for nature.
Dilmah Conservation has built many nature education programs in Sri Lanka to educate Sri Lankans on the importance of nature. Beach clean-ups, botanical gardens, a butterfly garden, courses in beekeeping, an elephant orphanage, research on reptiles and amphibians, protection of caves and creation of mangrove forests, etc. Everywhere, the local population is involved. The local population is involved in everything so that the love for nature grows from within.
Sri Lanka has the potential to be a paradise island. With your help, this dream will come true! Thank you for your support on behalf of all the people of our beautiful island. 💚