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General Needs Supplies/Suppliers

The General Process

For products that we do not have a specific contact, nor specific requirements for ordering...

We can log in to their website using the "supplies@tea-tavern.com" email with the corresponding Vaultwarden credentials to make the order.

Expectations

The Tea Tavern's order of priority for determining which product to purchase for the given purpose:

  1. Eco-friendliness
    1. Can it be composted?
    2. If not, can it be recyclable recycled materials?
    3. If not, Can it be recycled?
    4. Is it clear what is least damaging to the people we serve (including the environment they live in?)
    5. If the above is too unclear to make a determination, take the best, and move on to the next priority item.
  2. Price/Effectiveness (Needs to be balanced)
    1. Does it get the product to our customers effectively?
      1. If it gets rained on, will the product be okay?
      2. If it gets crushed, is the product okay?
      3. If it gets hot, will it melt?
    2. Is it the cheapest we can find that fulfills our needs?
    3. To reduce shipping costs, can we get the same or similar things from the same vendor at the same time as other products?
  3. Design
    1. Can it be customized?
    2. Does it look nice?
    3. Is the quality of the product higher than the others? (Do not spend too much time on this)
  4. If all the above are ordered, and it comes down to more than one option, then take the relevant information and ask leadership to decide further priorities.

Tea Packaging

The Tea Container

Currently, we use Kraft bags with an aluminum laminate inside. 
There are many suppliers for what appears to be the exact same bag.
Is there a difference? (needs to be researched)

Based on Elevate Packaging's catalogue, they are compostable.
Based on the Kraft Packaging Store's catalogue, they are aluminum foil (laminate?) within kraft paper.

Current known vendor options:

Possible future options:

  • Some places are developing seaweed-based plastic replacement products. They are supposed to be "Restorative" rather than just "recyclable", "compostable", or "carbon-neutral".

Labels for Tea Containers (TODO)

Shipping Supplies

Shipping tape

We currently order compostable shipping tape from the following places:

Reasoning for the above vendors:

Shipping Labels

Elevate packaging and pure labels' products are the same on this one.
Each are entirely compostable.
If something else is being ordered from one of these vendors, try to get these labels into the same order to save on shipping costs.

Shipping Boxes

Cardboard boxes are compostable, making most of the work pretty simple. The concern is mostly the ink (toxticity?), and if the cardboard has a covering. 
If price allows (mostly killed by shipping costs), order from Arka.com. They help make sure the Ink is okay and can give a good description of what the price will be for a variety of boxes in bulk, and are the most likely to ship in an ecologically friendly way.

Current options:

  • Arka
  • UPS?
  • USPS?
  • Home Depot?
  • Office Depot?

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