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Les Jardins de Gaïa, pioneers in tea imports by sailing boat

Publish on 01.27.2025 by Les Jardins de Gaïa

Importing tea from Asia with low carbon impact has been a reality for Les Jardins de Gaïa since 2024, making it the first French tea company to transport tea by sail. While this approach is already widespread for the transport of transatlantic goods, this is the first time that a cargo sailboat has made the transoceanic link from Asia to Europe with tea on board!

The first sailing teas arrive safely in Le Havre in 2024

After nearly two years of collaboration with TOWT, 4.5 tonnes of tea arrived in Le Havre on December 18, 2024, in the holds of the sailing cargo ship Artémis. This jewel of new technology, 80 m long and with a carrying capacity of 1,100 tonnes, took 3 months to sail from the port of Hô Chi Minh in Vietnam to Le Havre.

Built by the Piriou shipyards in Vietnam, this vessel breathes new life into the merchant marine and achieves 90% decarbonation per tonne and per km. With her, Les Jardins de Gaïa have taken a new step towards reducing their environmental impact.

To make this crossing, Les Jardins de Gaïa called on TOWT, a shipowner committed to the decarbonization of maritime transport.

TOWT, a shipowner who shares our commitments

TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport) is a new-generation shipowner based in Brest, France, and has been committed to decarbonizing maritime transport since 2011. After several years of research and development, TOWT is commissioning its first fleet powered mainly by wind propulsion, with a carrying capacity of around 1,100 tonnes per yacht. At the same time, TOWT has also developed the ANEMOS label, enabling consumers to easily identify goods transported by cargo sailboats, on the products concerned. Since 2022, TOWT has had the status of a company with a mission.

Further information: https: //www.towt.eu/

"Teas transported by sail": a range of teas shipped direct from producers

These first "teas transported by sail" come from the 268 small producer families of the Bân Liên cooperative, a long-standing partner of Les Jardins de Gaïa. After their journey from the port of Hô Chi Minh to Le Havre, they were hand-packed at the company's production site in Alsace.

Three types of tea were part of the first trip: green, black and white, representing 4.5 tonnes of goods, the equivalent of 10 pallets.

Once packaged in Alsace, they are available in four references, which inaugurate our new range of "teas transported by sail": Au rythme du vent, La voie de l'eau, Le souffle des mers and L'Odyssée.

Blown with the wind is a recipe for white tea flavoured whose fragrances, like a breath of light wind, invite you to escape. The harmony between the sweet, milky notes of coconut, the acidity of lime and the spiciness of combava are reminiscent of the gourmet flavors of certain Southeast Asian recipes.

The water way is a black tea that has sailed from its native Vietnam, heralding a new future. Thanks to the wind and its inexhaustible energy, we can enjoy a tea from small producers with pleasant woody scents and sweet malty flavours.

The breath of the seas is a recipe based on a green tea that carries with it the inspiring breath of the seas. Like an exotic voyage, its tasting is lulled by intensely fruity flavours of pomegranate and passion fruit on a deliciously spicy cardamom background.

The Odyssey is a flavoured black tea that has been adorned with a veil of gourmandise to better charm us. The caramelized notes of roasted buckwheat blend harmoniously with the woody flavours of tea to create an aromatic background for irresistible flavours of stewed bananas.

These references are available from March 2025 in our various physical points of sale and on our website. The packaging bears the words "transported by sail directly from the producers", as well as the ANEMOS label. The latter certifies transparent, carbon-free transport by sail, and provides end consumers with a "carbon logbook".

Trophée RSE Thés à la voile - Les Jardins de Gaîa

Sustainable mobility initiative wins RSE Grand Est award

The "Teas transported by sail" initiative made its mark at the 7th Trophées RSE Grand Est, at which Les Jardins de Gaïa won an award in the "Cap sur la mobilité durable" category.

The Trophées RSE Grand Est, held as part of the Sustainable Development Forum organized by Initiatives Durables in Strasbourg, reward companies for their innovative CSR projects in the Grand Est region.

The award recognizes the Alsatian company's many efforts in the fields of mobility and sustainable development: "Winning recognition such as the Grand Est CSR trophy for our project 'Teas transported by sail' confirms our choices, and enables us to show the general public concrete and inspiring illustrations of what an SME like ours is capable of doing. As A generous company, our 80 employees work boldly every day to change the world... I hope that others around us will seize upon these innovative practices and replicate them. Because "Alone we go faster, Together we go further". Cassandre Maury, Managing Director of Les Jardins de Gaïa.

Aiming for 10% less CO2 emissions by 2030

Today, this innovative project is a concrete illustration of Les Jardins de Gaïa's commitment as a pioneer in this field. Powered mainly by a vellus engine, the Artémis divides the carbon footprint of the journey by 10, with less than 2g of CO2 emitted per tonne and per km*, compared with 20g for a container carrier.

For 10 pallets of tea, this represents 2T less CO2 than with conventional containers: a further step towards reducing the company's environmental impact!

This flagship initiative, which sets an example and arouses the enthusiasm of those who discover it, is not Jardins de Gaïa's only commitment to sustainable mobility.

Since its creation in 1994, the company has always favored transport by boat or barge via the Rhine.

At the same time, since 2022, it has been an active participant in the "Work by bike" challenge. In 2024, employees had already cycled 6,739 km, avoiding the emission of 1,482 kg of CO2.

Since 2021, the use of telecommuting has also resulted in a saving of 54,000 km travelled in thermal vehicles, avoiding the emission of 10.4 tonnes of CO2.

The new range of sailing teas and these complementary initiatives are part of a more global project aimed at reducing the company's carbon emissions by 10% by 2030.

The aim is to generate positive impacts on both the environment and society. Organic or biodynamic farming, fair trade, eco-design, working directly with producer organizations and CSR... the company upholds strong values that constantly drive it to innovate in local and global solutions.

This green transition takes place at all levels, involving suppliers, employees and, of course, customers who, by supporting these actions through their purchases, actively participate in this sustainable progress.

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