International Sustainability Impact Report 2025
Better Communities
Mthunzi: Growing
Shade, Security and
Opportunity
If you have read our reports before you will remember that Tetley buys more tea from Malawi than any other tea brand. We have long been committed to supporting Malawi, a country where tea is not only a vital agricultural export but a key source of livelihoods.
We are working with the ETP (Ethical Tea Partnership) on a project called Mthunzi, designed to support smallholder farmers through climate resilience, income diversification, and gender inclusion.
Mthunzi means ‘shade’ so it’s fitting that tree planting sits at its heart. The tree nursery sits on land provided by one of our key suppliers, a number of different tree species are being nurtured for smallholders to choose from, which when grown will provide shade for tea bushes, boost soil fertility, or provide fruits for eating or selling, thereby opening up new income opportunities.
So far, the Tree Nursery has planted over 305,026 trees, reaching 7,248 smallholder farmers, 59% of which are women.
A new buzz in the community
Whilst tree planting is the main focus of the project, the ETP have also supported beekeeping among the communities which, once established, has the potential to be a lucrative and scalable venture for smallholders; with 15 – 17 kg of honey collected per harvest from one beehive, a potential earning per quarterly harvest of 7000 kwacha.
90 farmers with a balanced mix of men and women have been trained in apiary management, honey processing, and business skills.
Lyson Jones, a tea farmer from Mulanje, has long worked hard to support his family. As tea prices fell and living costs rose, he began looking for new ways to earn. Through the Mthunzi project, he discovered beekeeping and used his carpentry skills to build an 11‑hive apiary. He’s now growing a sustainable beekeeping business alongside his tea farming, creating a more resilient future for his household.
