Heading to the kitchen to brew a cup of tea or coffee is a daily ritual observed in work places all over Australia. As you wait for the kettle to boil, the impact of the act of making it may seem to be nothing more than ‘charging’ your brain for the day ahead. But did you know the tea or coffee you reach for can impact on billions of families across the globe?
In 2009, NAB switched supplies of all tea and coffee to Fairtrade products across 800 workplaces, making NAB a Fair Trade accredited workplace. NAB Group Executive Group Business Services Gavin Slater said NAB’s nationwide switch to Fairtrade coffee and tea reflected the Bank’s broader commitment to sustainability.
“Supporting Fairtrade tea and coffee will provide improved working conditions, stability and trading potential to disadvantaged communities and also give our people a reason to be proud,” Mr Slater said. At the time of the switch, NAB’s employee intranet was inundated with messages of support for the Fairtrade initiative and the program has gone from strength to strength.
Two years on and Fairtrade black and green teas, coffee and drinking chocolate is firmly entrenched in NAB workplaces. Carley Swan, Fairtrade Australia’s Operations Manager said last week “we are excited to announce that NAB is not only Australia’s largest Fairtrade work place but also the world’s, as recognised under the Fairtrade Workplace scheme.”
“NAB has really set a benchmark for big business across the globe to take its lead and help make a significant contribution to fight against poverty,” she said.
The impact of these procurement choices mean that not only can farmers grow and develop their business but they can send their kids to school, build roads and ensure access to better health care in their communities.
