Taylors of Harrogate partners with Engage to showcase its sustainability credentials

Leeds-based digital agency Engage has collaborated with Taylors of Harrogate to develop an online content hub and report to showcase its work in sustainability and drive awareness of how brands can become more sustainable.

Engage has collaborated with the Harrogate-based independent tea and coffee company for over five years on a range of projects including building websites, developing microsites and creating content.

The agency was selected to provide digital support for Taylors’ sustainability activity due to the longstanding partnership and its extensive experience with FMCG brands including Heineken and Britvic.

The three year project includes the development of a digital content hub to showcase the environmental and social work conducted by the Taylors and Yorkshire Tea brands in the UK and with suppliers overseas. It also features more information on their sustainability credentials and insight into how other brands can become more sustainable. A dedicated sustainability report has also been produced to review past projects and impacts on people and the planet.

Samantha Gibson, sustainability communications manager at Taylors of Harrogate, commented: “Not only have the Engage team produced a beautifully designed platform to bring this work to life, they’ve also embraced the values behind the project, challenging themselves to build sustainable thinking into the development of the site itself. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner. We are excited about the opportunities the site brings to enable us to talk openly about our sustainability work, not only discussing our progress but also the challenges we’ve faced. It’s also a place to share more from our amazing suppliers around the world.”

Taylors is the first tea and coffee company in the UK to share full details of its supply chains and its impact on suppliers in the countries it operates. Alongside a strong focus on supply chain resilience, the business has spent the last five years working towards CarbonNeutralⓇ certification for its entire tea and coffee supply chain, and all of its products are now certified from field to shelf. Further sustainability work includes projects involved in access to water, planting trees and sustainable farming..

Tom Schofield, creative director at Engage, said: “We’re starting to see more of our clients following the lead of Taylors and investing in their sustainability resources and credentials. Thanks to programmes like Blue Planet II, sustainability is becoming more mainstream and consumers are increasingly expecting brands like Taylors to invest in both people and the planet.

“We’ve really enjoyed working on the sustainability hub and report so far, and we’re looking forward to working on the next steps of the project which includes collaborating with Taylors to deliver a sustainability webinar.”

Businesses which prioritise sustainability can reap the rewards and benefits adds Alex Willcocks, co-founder of Engage: “Sustainability is not only great for people and our planet, but it’s also great for business. Customers today have their pick from a number of competitively priced, high quality products and services. Adopting a visible and positive stance on the issues of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) that is both authentic and aligned to your customer values is a powerful differentiator, especially in a crowded market.”

For business leaders looking to find out more about how to achieve greater sustainability credentials and the benefits this can generate, Engage and Taylors of Harrogate will be hosting a webinar on Thursday 20 August to underline the business benefits and value of having a centralised sustainability hub, and the positive impact that sharing a sustainability story can have on brand value and reputation.