This post is part of our series featuring International Herb Symposium sponsors.
UpS: Thank you so much to Sarah Tanner, Social Impact Manager, for taking the time to talk with us about Traditional Medicinals. Sarah, could you give readers a quick introduction to the company?
TM: Traditional Medicinals is an independent company that embraces sustainability, ingredient purity, and social and environmental activism. A Certified B Corporation and California Certified Green Business, we’re the leading seller of wellness tea in the U.S. and the pioneer of the wellness tea category in the U.S. and Canada.
UpS: And What’s your mission?
TM: We are not just in the business of tea. We are in the business of change—changing lives, changing communities, and changing the quality of herbal remedies.
Since our inception in 1974, we have infused sustainability into every aspect of our operations, from sourcing and packaging to distribution and voluntary certifications. This may cost more of our time and resources, but we believe it’s the right way to do business. While we are proud of our progress, there is still much more to accomplish. Your conscious choice allows us to continue this important work.
UpS: Traditional Medicinals shares a cofounder with the IHS. Could you tell us about that?
TM: In the late 1960s, while living in the coastal redwood forest, Rosemary Gladstar met community activist and environmentalist Drake Sadler. The young couple was part of a movement of back-to-the-land baby boomers seeking an alternative lifestyle, including natural foods and herbal remedies. Together, they shared a vision for the rebirth of herbalism in North America, and in 1974 they co-founded Traditional Medicinals. Although no longer active in the company, Rosemary’s original herbal formulas (including Throat Coat, Mother’s Milk and Smooth Move) continue to fulfill the promise of quality and integrity.
UpS: What are three things readers might not know about the company?
TM: 1. 54% of our company managers identify as female.
2. In 2018 and 2019 we worked with farmers and collectors in Paraguay to create an income-generating bee keeping project. In 2020 we went back to Paraguay to support another community with materials and instructions to build 31 bathrooms and sanitation facilities. The new facilities have dramatically improved the hygiene, health and sanitary conditions for the farmers and their families and reduced the risk of water contamination and disease spread.
3. For every 10 hours they spend volunteering, TM employees are able to request a grant from the Traditional Medicinals Foundation to gift to a charity of their choice. Employees can gift up to 5 grants each fiscal year.
Want to learn more about Traditional Medicinals? Check out their website, read the Plant Power Journal, and find their teas in a store local to you. But first, check out the video below for a fun way to treat yourself to chilled turmeric tea.
