Lipton

Lipton is a popular brand of iced tea known for its range of flavors, including peach. The brand offers a variety of ready-to-drink iced teas and tea-based beverages marketed globally.

CCI Score

-6.75

April 18

Latest Event

Lipton's Controversial Sale of Kenyan Tea Estates

Lipton is under scrutiny for selling its tea estates in Kenya to a firm linked to alleged human rights abuses, amid concerns of ignoring free, prior, and informed consent from local communities whose ancestral lands were seized. The decision, which has been criticized by rights groups, raises broader concerns over corporate commitment to ethical business practices and economic collaborations with entities linked to abuses.

Take Action

So what can you do? It's time to make tough choices. Where will you cast your vote?

Shop Alternatives SEE ALL: Newman's Own

Quest Nutrition

McCormick
Use Your Voice OTHER TOOLS
Investigate
Share the Score SUPPORT CCI

COLLABORATOR

Lipton is currently rated as a Collaborator.

-5 to -9 CCI Score

In this category, companies align with authoritarian practices mainly to avoid trouble or regulatory conflict. Their compliance is driven by self-preservation, resulting in minimal resistance even as they participate in oppressive systems.

Latest Events

JUL

11

2024

Lipton's Controversial Sale of Kenyan Tea Estates
-38.06

Lipton is under scrutiny for selling its tea estates in Kenya to a firm linked to alleged human rights abuses, amid concerns of ignoring free, prior, and informed consent from local communities whose ancestral lands were seized. The decision, which has been criticized by rights groups, raises broader concerns over corporate commitment to ethical business practices and economic collaborations with entities linked to abuses.
-50

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

March 20

Lipton's decision to proceed with the sale despite allegations that it bypassed the necessary free, prior, and informed consent of local Kenyan communities shows a blatant disregard for its responsible sourcing and human rights commitments. This move not only perpetuates historical land injustices but also undermines ethical business practices expected of a global brand.

Kenya: Lipton to sell tea estates to firm linked to rights abuses
-30

Economic and Structural Influence

March 20

By choosing a buyer linked to entities with known human rights concerns, Lipton is effectively facilitating economic collaboration with groups that have questionable ethics. This decision highlights an economic influence that undermines fair and responsible corporate behavior, contributing to broader structural injustices.

Kenya: Lipton to sell tea estates to firm linked to rights abuses
MAY

23

2024

Historic Labor Rights Memo Secured for Lipton Workers
73.07

UFCW Local 400 ratified a groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement and signed a labor rights memo with Lipton, ensuring robust protections including an 18% wage increase and commitment to upholding internationally recognized workers’ rights.
+80

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 20

Lipton's recent involvement in a historic labor rights memo, ratified by UFCW Local 400, demonstrates a significant commitment to protecting worker rights and fostering collective bargaining. This move aligns with ethical labor practices and represents a positive counter to the rise of authoritarian business practices by empowering workers and ensuring fair labor standards.

UFCW Local 400 Signs Historic Labor Rights Memo Protecting Lipton Members
SEP

20

2023

Lipton's Response to Alleged Human Rights Abuses in the Tea Supply Chain
-38.42

Lipton has come under scrutiny following numerous allegations of labor rights violations in its tea supply chain, including non-payment of wages, unfulfilled promises of job security amidst land conversion, fatal accidents, and inadequate safety measures. The company states that it is working with its supply chain partners to investigate these issues.
-50

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 20

The report reveals serious allegations regarding labor relations, such as non-payment of wages, unfulfilled promises related to employment following land conversion, and fatal accidents in the workplace. These issues indicate systemic failures in protecting workers' rights across the supply chain. Lipton's reactive approach and reliance on supply chain partners rather than taking immediate corrective actions contribute to a deeply negative rating in this category.

Lipton's response to alleged human rights abuses in the tea supply chain
-40

Supply Chain Ethics

March 20

The allegations extend beyond direct labor practices and highlight broader failures in supply chain ethics. Issues such as forced uprooting of tea bushes for industrial projects, inadequate oversight of supplier conditions, and a reactive response to critical incidents indicate that Lipton's supply chain management does not meet ethical standards, thereby contributing negatively to its overall corporate responsibility.

Lipton's response to alleged human rights abuses in the tea supply chain
MAY

22

2023

Lipton Implicated in Human Rights and Supply Chain Concerns
-37.17

A recent report has linked major tea companies, including the Lipton brand under Ekaterra, to plantations with reported human rights abuses. The report highlights issues related to labor rights violations and opaque supply chain practices, raising concerns about the ethical responsibility of the brand.
-50

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 20

The report details multiple human rights violations on tea plantations connected to companies under Ekaterra, including Lipton. These include issues related to worker compensation, unsafe conditions, and punitive actions against union activities. The omission of detailed sourcing information contributes to an environment where labor abuses can persist, reflecting severe deficiencies in labor relations and human rights practices.

Major tea companies linked to plantations with reported human rights abuses, report says
-40

Supply Chain Ethics

March 20

Lipton, as part of Ekaterra, is connected to sourcing practices that lack transparency. The report criticizes tea companies for not providing exact details about their supply chains which can mask human rights abuses. This lack of due diligence in supply chain ethics undermines accountability and enables problematic practices to continue.

Major tea companies linked to plantations with reported human rights abuses, report says
SEP

06

2016

Lipton Tea Factory Workers Join Union
33.78

Lipton Tea factory workers at the Suffolk, Va. facility, responsible for producing all North American Lipton Tea bags, have successfully unionized after enduring strenuous working conditions including extended 12‐hour shifts and 'drafting' schedules. The unionization vote, with a majority of workers in favor, marks an important step toward improved labor rights and ethical business practices within the company.
+80

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 20

The unionization of Lipton Tea factory workers underscores a significant advancement in labor relations and human rights practices. The workers’ action in response to exploitative scheduling and extended work hours demonstrates their push for safer working conditions and fair labor practices. This positive grassroots development contrasts with authoritarian labor repression and aligns with anti-fascist values by empowering workers against exploitative corporate practices.

Lipton Tea Factory Workers Join Union
AUG

26

2016

Lipton Workers Vote to Unionize: “Everyone just got tired of it”
-33.68

Over 200 workers at Lipton's Virginia plant, facing declining benefits, forced overtime, and management indifference, voted to unionize to reclaim their dignity and secure better working conditions.
-80

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 20

Lipton's labor practices have come under fire as workers reported enduring extended 12-hour shifts, forced overtime (drafting), declining benefits, and a dismissive attitude from management. This unionization vote, driven by frustration over oppressive working conditions, underscores the company's failure to respect basic labor rights, marking a significant red flag in terms of ethical responsibility and aligning closely with anti-fascist values that champion the rights and dignity of workers.

Lipton Workers Vote to Unionize: “Everyone just got tired of it”