We are a social enterprise. What that means in practice is set out below: the certifications we hold, who issues them, and what each one covers.
B CORP CERTIFICATION
As an official B Corp company, Kazi Yetu is counted among businesses that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. In 2022 we have become certified by B Lab as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent our commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit. The B Corp certification is for the whole of the business and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.
We value the B Corp process and community for its focus on society, environment, and governance when scoring businesses. This is 100% in line with our values as social business and how we want to reach our goals of transforming the way products are made and traded from East Africa to the world!
ANERKANNTER LIEFERANT DES WELTLADEN-DACHVERBANDES
In 2021, Kazi Yetu became an accredited supplier of World Shops in Germany. The German Weltladen-Dachverband (umbrella organisation of World Shops) has clear criteria for its members. The foundation is the Convention of the World Shops – Criteria for the Fair Trade of Worldshops. They see Fair Trade as a trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect which also strives for greater equity in international trade. Through better trade conditions and the safeguarding of social rights for disadvantaged producers and workers especially in the countries of the Global South Fair Trade contributes to sustainable development.
The convention focuses on six key areas: Trade Practices, Working Conditions, Transparency, Education and Information Work, Public Relations and Advocacy and Environmental Protection
EU Organic Certification
Our blending and packing facility in Dar es Salaam went through EU Organic certification for tea in 2023. Our ingredients are not all certified, so we do not describe our finished products as organic.
We source from farmers trained in organic growing practices. Most of them are not third-party certified: certification is an expensive process for smallholder farmers, cooperatives and small businesses like ours. That describes how they farm, not a certification we hold.