WATAWALA PLANTATIONS PLC MAKES ITS ENTRY INTO THE FAIRTRADE MARKET.
   

We take pride in informing you that Watawala Plantations is now Fairtrade certified for Orthdox and CTC Black tea with the affiliated Estates in its Fairtrade ‘Group Certification Process’ being.

 
· Dickoya Estate
· Kenilworth Estate
· Abbotsleigh Estate
· Henfold Estate
· Waltrim Estate
· Homadola Estate
· Vellaioya Estate
 
It will be of interest to know that Fairtrade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for Producers and Workers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system. Certification provides them with fair access to markets under better trade conditions.
 
Being Fairtrade certified qualifies the estate in many key areas of Social and Economical development in terms of the welfare of the workforce and related issues and in the development of the Environment.
 
To a Trader or a Consumer, our ‘Fairtrade’ certified tea implies that this is the product of a socially and environmentally responsible management working in partnership with its workforce towards improving their living standards. It would therefore mean that buying our Fairtrade certified tea is the easiest way they can show compassion and solidarity towards these efforts and that their choice matters a great deal to help us in helping those in need.
 
With every kilo of conventional tea (other than Dust and Fannings) sold under the Fairtrade label, a premium of US$ 1.10 is paid by the Buyer. For conventional teas made using the CTC production method and for Fannings and Dusts made using the orthodox production method, a premium of US $ 0.50 is paid. From these premiums, US $ 0.10 is deducted by the Buyer and paid to the Producer to be used to support improvements in working conditions as part of ongoing certification and compliance with Fairtrade standards and the balances credited to the worker Joint Body Account.
 
It must be realized that these benefits do not come for free but requires a whole lot of commitment and resolve, especially to complying with the stringent standards set by the certifying body vis-à-vis Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International e.V (FLO). The Management, Staff and Workers of these certified estates have proved themselves in this respect and now look forward to reaping the benefits of their efforts.
 
As a Company, we stand proud of this accomplishment more so as our Social, Economical and Environmental policies have and will always continue to support their cause.