At Milo's, our culture and our operations are built on the belief that we can – and should – make a difference in the world. That’s why we at Milo’s put People First and strive to continually reduce our environmental impact on the planet.
Milo’s sustainability program includes a comprehensive recycling program, training, recordation, and much more. We committed to celebrating Earth Day annually to further educate our associates on our sustainability program, the importance of environmental protection, and to celebrate the accomplishments that our team has achieved for the environment. Perhaps the most important achievement in our sustainability efforts is our 96.9% waste diversion rate. We have funded scientific and academic research into the uses of spent tea leaves since we produce 12 - 16 tons per day. Our Sustainability program includes goals for aggressive water and packaging reduction, expansion of renewable energy, and sourcing programming that ensures our suppliers' values match ours.
The Oklahoma facility opened in October 2020 and was built and designed with the intention of achieving TRUE certification in the future. Many of the policies and procedures regarding Zero Waste were able to carry over from the Alabama facility straight into the Oklahoma facility upon opening. This allowed the Oklahoma plant to sprint past creating waste reduction procedures and jump straight into a process that was designed to eliminate waste.
All new employees go through sustainability training during orientation during which the importance of their role in our Zero Waste journey is emphasized. Since the importance of Zero Waste was communicated from the facility’s inception, there is a strong culture and attitude surrounding Milo’s Zero Waste Policies. Team members are always interested in learning more about what can be recycled or reused and are open to sharing their ideas. This facility has also participated in community and charity events where tea products have been donated for human consumption.
The Oklahoma facility was certified with a 96.9% diversion rate, receiving 75 credits, and was able to meet the highest and best use for 100% of waste produced at the plant. Looking forward, Milo's aims to achieve a company-wide waste diversion rate of 99% or better and for new facilities to receive TRUE certification within 2 years of opening.
“One of Milo’s core values is Responsibility, which encompasses both corporate stewardship and environmental responsibility. We want to be recognized as a leader in sustainability in Alabama, Oklahoma, and soon, throughout the nation. To reach this goal, our journey began with Zero Waste certification. Certification required the commitment, innovation, and determination of our entire team to implement processes to eliminate unsustainable choices and divert waste from the landfill to create a healthy environment for future generations. We also recognize that we must partner with organizations like GBCI to make step changes in our zero waste journey. There is an African proverb that says “if you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. The many changes that we have made during the certification process have been transformative for everyone involved as we all wholeheartedly embraced the zero waste definition: ‘Zero waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others.’ Our commitment to be a corporate responsible company does not end with this certification but begins the long journey of making our company have a more positive impact on climate change.”
- Carl Evans, VP of Operations and Sustainability Champion, Milo’s Tea Company
Read about the Milo's Tea Company TRUE-certified Alabama facility.