BalanceSeptember2016 - 17

D O I N G I T RIGHT FAIR PLAY Tim and Sebastian made a commitment right from the start to be true to their purpose and create an organisation which gives something back to everyone it touches. 'Our business model was built around doing things the right way, which is why schemes such as FairWild are so important to us,' explains Sebastian. 'FairWild guarantees the plants we use have been harvested in a sustainable way and that the collectors have been paid fairly for their work. 'We've helped to pioneer FairWild and now we're working with growers in India, Kazakhstan, Bosnia, Hungary and Spain. By the end of 2017 all our teas will be certified as "fair" through another scheme - Fair For Life. We're so proud of this as it's the most equitable fair trade system in the world.' ORGANIC FROM THE START Each year, Pukka also gives 1% of its turnover to environmental charities, audited through a scheme called 1% For The Planet. 'If every company in the FTSE 100 did the same,' says Sebastian, 'it would generate £10billion!' The principles of organic farming are extremely important to the pair. 'That's why we chose to make organic teas and supplements from the outset,' says Sebastian. 'Organic farming defines "health" for me. It is a way of farming the natural world for the benefit of all: it's better for the environment, for wildlife and for us. If anything is sustainable, organic farming is. Because cotton is such a polluting crop, even the string on our teabags is organic.' LUCY BEE COCONUT OIL LUCY BUCKINGHAM, 25, IS KEEN TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THOSE WHO'VE SUPPORTED HER 'When I was 18 months old I was diagnosed as coeliac. It explained why I was constantly crying as a baby. Back then, there were limited gluten-free foods on the market. 'My parents had to find a way to feed me, but luckily they were great cooks. It wasn't long before most of my friends wanted the homemade gluten-free pizza I was eating, rather than the shop-bought ones they were given!' Then in 2007, Lucy's family were introduced to coconut oil through a friend in Hong Kong, who gave them a jar together with a copy of The Coconut Oil Miracle by nutritionist and naturopath, Dr Bruce Fife, a man who swears by its health benefits. HELPING OTHERS 'We became obsessed by the stuff, cooking everything with it and using it topically on our skin, and IF YOU so we decided to BENEFIT FROM develop our own range. A PLACE'S 'The desire was PRODUCTS, IT'S ONLY always to work directly RIGHT TO GIVE with producers and SOMETHING the Fair Sustainability BACK Alliance, which asks locals what changes they would like to see implemented.' Although they pay 10% more for their coconuts, the benefits are worth it. 'We have helped so many people along the way, including a number of communities in the Philippines, which now have wells September 2016 BALANCE in their villages and access to free drinking water. Plus our Fair Trade Certification ensures that monkeys are never involved in the collection of our coconuts.' Lucy Bee is essentially a family -run business with just 11 people in the office. 'Recently we've extended the product range - our maca and lucuma from Peru are fair trade, as are our turmeric and cinnamon from India.' THE PERSONAL TOUCH As the 'face' of the brand, Lucy takes pride in engaging with customers and cites social media as the reason for Lucy Bee's success. 'The personal touch makes a big difference - people want to feel connected to a brand. If you're looking to launch a product range, I would say even if you can't be fair trade, there are still ways to support local communities. 'If you benefit from the beautiful products of a place, it's only right you give something back.' 17 PHOTOGRAPHY: OLIVER SCALE 'The teas were received really well by shop owners and we won an award for "Best Organic Product", which set everything into motion,' says Tim. 'The idea was always to help create a more conscious world by connecting people to the power of plants. We live in a concrete jungle and want to bring nature into people's lives through a cup of tea. 'The purpose came first, and that's always been the way we've looked at it. Profit is important, because it feeds a purpose. 'If there's one thing I'd say to aspiring entrepreneurs, it's don't be motivated by your fears, but by your opportunities.'

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BalanceSeptember2016