Sustainable Agriculture

These efforts have not gone to waste as we were recently crowned the first Tea Company in the world to be Rain Forest Alliance certified. Environment Tea has been grown on the Unilever Tea estates for 80 years and the fact that output is rising significantly is a strong indication that the company’s agronomy is extremely eco friendly and sustainable.  Today the water courses are as clean and as full as they have ever been, with no pollution or erosion. Hydro dams are improving their status.   In addition to establishing eucalyptus woodlots totalling 1,905 hectares that make us sufficient in factory fuel, the company has preserved and is now extending 1,500 hectares of wetlands and indigenous forests.

The company’s “Trees 2000” project has 380,000 indigenous trees on company land and has established tree nurseries to supply both the estate forestry programme and for distribution to neighbouring communities and beyond 300,000 trees have been donated to institutions and the neighboring community.

The work at Egerton is creating the largest botanical gene bank in East Africa and in recognition of UTKL’s contribution; a section has been named the Unilever Tea Kenya Gardens.

UTKL has planted and maintains three arboreta in Kericho town itself. These have scientific value and provide a recreational facility for neighbouring communities and visitors. The arboreta combine beauty, biodiversity and recreation.

The company partners the World-Wide Fund for nature through its corporate club of East Africa and the Friends of Mau Watershed (FOMAWA) through funding and transport in efforts to preserve and restore the Mau forest and recently with UNEP and the South West Mau trust

UTKL’s sustained and broad commitment was recognized by the Total Eco-Challenge Gold Award in 2004.

In parallel with its internal and external forestry programmes, UTKL constantly reviews and improves its eco-performance on the tea estates in line with Unilever’s global “Sustainable Agriculture Initiatives”.

Research

The Company’s commitment to education is matched by its passion for research. We have a fully fledged Research department staffed by Kenyan scientists working on constant improvement to both the agronomy and manufacture of tea.

The Plant Improvement Centre has developed new tea varieties that are drought resistant and yield upto double the harvest of seedling tea. New varieties and sustainable agriculture best practices are also made available to outgrowers.

In collaboration with Unilever Tea centres, the department is actively involved in developing new tea products and improving both efficiency and quality of factory processes.

Corporate Social Responsibility

In line with our vision, we strive to achieve the highest standards of Corporate Social Responsibility. Our concern for welfare staff, for the environment, for the neighboring communities and for the national economy and world society are central and intrinsic to who we are and the success of what we do. Without this attention, the business results would not be so strong or at all sustainable.

Employment

We provide over 20,000 jobs making us probably the largest single employer in Kenya’s private sector. Our workforce benefits from housing, health, education and other welfare facilities. They also have access to training and career upgrade opportunities. The company also provides thousands of jobs to outgrowers, suppliers and service providers.

Health

We offer free medical treatment to our employees and their children who are below 18 years. We have 29 dispensaries, 4 health centres and a well equipped 85 – bed company hospital with x-ray and laboratory facilities and a maternity unit.

We have also powerfully and quickly responded to the challenges of HIV/Aids. Our programmes are recognized as best practices and are used by other businesses and donors such as the Walter Reed project as a model for extension to other work place community initiatives.

Education

We have 19 primary schools and two secondary schools built by the company for employees’ children and the neighboringcommunities. In addition, we have also supported the development of a major primary school and three secondary schools in the neighbouring community.

The company also commits Kshs. 1.2 million per year to supporting 18 students from the neighbouring community. Tom Brazier bursaries are also awarded to 25 students who belong to the unionisable employees per year. We have also established a Starehe Boys Endowment fund worth Kshs. 550,000 to sponsor a student through high school and university.

For professional training and career development, the company has an International Training Centre (ITC) in Kericho of such high standing in the world tea industry that it both attracts international students and qualified Kenyans to gain world-wide experience on secondment as expatriates.