Higher Living
Lacks transparency. Shows little about where or how its products are made.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
British brand of mostly organic herbal teas.
We couldn't find where Higher Living gets most of its tea, a certification covering its range or a list of its suppliers.
Also worth knowing
Most tea is grown in countries such as India and Kenya, where workers are very unlikely to earn a living wage.
Better-graded tea
Graded higher than Higher Living, selling the same kinds of things.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Higher Living? Send a right of reply.
Compare Higher Living with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 5 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production, probably in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 5
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere tea is usually grown, such as India and China, unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Probably made partly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Higher Living's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.
- A product carrying the Fairtrade mark: Good
Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.
Where its tea is grown
We couldn't confirm where Higher Living gets most of its tea, so this shows where tea is usually grown.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Kenya | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Sri Lanka | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malawi | Strong protections | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: tea estate wages in Assam, Sri Lanka and Kenya are among the lowest of any export crop, often paid partly in kind (housing, rations).
Research notes Higher Living's teas are blended and packed in the UK at Only Natural Products' own Gloucestershire factory, but the herbs and teas come from farms it does not name, and it publishes no sourcing countries for its teas and herbs. Much of the range is sold as organic, though some lines are not. It holds no Fairtrade or other labour certification and publishes no supplier code, audits or modern slavery statement, so conditions for the farm workers who grow its ingredients are not disclosed. It is sold at Woolworths and health food stores in Australia.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Not covered | No modern slavery statement found; Only Natural Products is a small family firm likely below the UK reporting threshold. View |
| Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ) | Not listed | No Fairtrade certification is shown for Higher Living teas; the Ethical Consumer page for owner Only Natural Products lists none. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No allegations involving Higher Living or Only Natural Products found on the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Only Natural Products - ethical.org.au · search the archive · Owner of Higher Living, Dr Stuart's and Kromland Farm; Gloucester; no rating or score shown (assessment last updated 2015)
- ONLY NATURAL PRODUCTS LIMITED - Companies House · search the archive · Active company, Worthing, West Sussex; accounts to March 2025
- Top accolade for British tea brand (Health Food Business, 2023) · search the archive · Higher Living owned by British family-run firm Only Natural Products; organic brand; packed in its own tea factory
- Only Natural Products doubles size of tea factory (Natural Products) · search the archive · Gloucestershire tea factory; brands Dr Stuarts, Kromland Farm and Higher Living; exports include Australia
- Higher Living Peppermint & Licorice Tea 15 pack - Woolworths · search the archive · Live Woolworths Australia product listing
- Higher Living Tea - Fine Food Direct · search the archive · About 16 Higher Living teas sold by an Australian retailer; some lines organic, some not
Company details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Higher Living ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/higher-living, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Higher Living.