MEET MIRANDA: SUSTAINABILITY & COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST, VAN REES GROUP
Driving positive change
“As Sustainability and Compliance Specialist at Van Rees Group, I’m responsible for everything related to our social and environmental impact. This ranges from setting strategy to handling practical day-to-day tasks. It includes ensuring we meet the requirements of sustainability legislation and certification schemes like Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, and Organic standards.
I work closely with all our teams to identify and assess social and environmental risks – both within our own operations and across our supply chains – with the goal of driving meaningful, positive change throughout the company. A key milestone on this journey will be the publication of our first Sustainability Report in 2025, based on our 2024 data. This will be an important step forward in Van Rees’ ongoing commitment to make a positive impact in the tea supply chain.
My journey into the tea industry
Tea has been a growing passion of mine over the years. My background is in water resources management and science communication, but a visit to an oolong factory and tea plantations in Taiwan sparked my curiosity about tea. Since then, I’ve come to see it as a field where there’s always something new to learn and trained to become a tea sommelier and professional tea taster. The more I dive in, the more I realize how much there is still to explore about tea. Working at Van Rees is an incredible opportunity to deepen this knowledge while contributing to more sustainable practices in the global tea industry.
What everyone should know about tea
Did you know that water quality can dramatically affect tea’s taste and aroma? Brewing tea is really a kind of chemical reaction: water temperature, brewing time, and the specific mineral content – especially calcium and magnesium – play huge roles in the flavor and color of your cup.
Why sustainability matters
For me, it’s essential that my work has a positive impact. I hope that by promoting sustainability within Van Rees, I’m helping to build awareness about responsible sourcing and making meaningful progress toward a more sustainable tea industry.”
