CSR REPORT 2025 BASED ON OUR ACTIVITY IN 2024 A FORCE FOR GOODCSR REPORT 2025 BASED ON OUR ACTIVITY IN 2024 A FORCE FOR GOODEditorial Our commitment I believe that “commitment” is the word that best expresses our intentions and achievements. Social and environmental commitment are at the heart of Palais des Thés’ values. These commitments are fundamental and are part of our mission statement. They reflect our everyday concerns. Being committed is a beautiful thing. It expresses a strength of will and determination. Being committed brings people together. Being committed reflects who we are. We will not stand by and watch as farmers uproot their tea plants because they can’t make a living from their harvest, or as they sell mediocre tea at a dollar a kilo when they could earn thirty times more if they had the skills. We will not turn a blind eye to unethical agricultural practices or working conditions. We will not promote intensive farming. We will support agriculture that is good for people and good for the planet. This is our commitment. We are committed to the tea farmers, to our colleagues, to all those with whom we are connected and to those who need us. And, of course, we are committed to the planet. Our commitment to our farmers means, first of all, getting to know them, understanding their needs and the needs of their community, not to have them by the throat but to assure them of our goodwill and, if possible, ensure regular purchases, foster long-term relationships and contribute to the local communities. We are committed to building a virtuous tea industry, to encouraging everyone to improve their agricultural practices, and to not turning a blind eye to the biggest environmental threats of our time and, in particularly, the impact of the climate crisis on tea-growing areas. In terms of the planet, our commitment takes the form of not increasing the amount of packaging and plastic waste generated and to encourage customers to opt for loose leaf tea. Promoting workplace integration and access to work is also part of our commitments. Commitment is at the heart of our profession, from Tea Sommelier to Tea Explorer. We are committed to giving all our customers the best possible service. We offer them a warm welcome in store and introduce them to a whole new world of tea, guiding them at every step of the way. We never sell them something they don’t need. We inspire everyone to be more informed consumers. Commitment also means enlightening our customers, such as at the Tea School, or by offering guidance to chefs who come to us for advice. In terms of wider society, our commitment is to bring joy to people who need it, be it in hospitals, retirement homes or community centers. There are many ways to make a difference, including being civic-minded, to not play dirty or offshore income in the Bahamas. We can bring peace and happiness. We can make tea accessible to as many people as possible. And of course, we can encourage our employees to fulfil their potential. In this regard, La Manufacture in Georgia aims to provide our teams with unique experiences focused on crafting the most original teas. We are committed to our colleagues by trying to give everyone at Palais des Thés their best professional experience. We are always asking ourselves what we can do to improve their lives, or the way our business operates. Commitment also means not keeping all your profits for yourself, and thinking about sustain- ability. And of course we want our business to thrive so that we can depend on its longevity, so that our strong values sustain our company. Thank you all for your commitment. Thank you to those who have worked so hard for so long on our various projects. Thanks to our farmers and partners. Together we can make a difference! François-Xavier Delmas is thefounder of Palais des Thés and one of the world’s most renowned tea experts. He has spent the past thirty years traveling tea gardens across the world in search of rare andexceptional teas.“An exceptional tea born on fertile land is nurtured by the hands of passionate producers. It takes a conscious company like my own to reveal its character, so it can be savored by tea drinkers who appreciate the value of really good tea.” FRANÇOIS-XAVIER DELMAS Palais des Thés founder and Tea Explorer25 INCREASED SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, COLLECTION-WIDE 26. Achieve global net zero 28. Adopt eco-design principles to reduce the environmental impact of our products throughout their lifecycle 30. Encourage sustainable tea drinking 32. Striving for inclusivity 6 ABOUT US 3 EDITORIAL 9 COMMITTED TO BUILDING A VIRTUOUS TEA INDUSTRY 10. Building trusting relationships with tea producers 12. Producer profiles 14. Converting our flavored creations to organic 16. Helping producers transition to organic farming practices 18. Understanding and acting on climate change 20. Adopting a responsible purchasing policy 22. Supporting local communities Contents 47 GLOSSARY 44 TEN KEY PROJECTS 35 TEA BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER 36. Become an expert at the Tea School 38. La Manufacture: a hands-on approach to learning about tea 40. Tea school workshops bringing tea to life 42. Sharing tea with as many people as possible6 ABOUT US Founded in 1986 by François-Xavier Delmas, Palais des Thés is renowned for its selection of teas sourced directly from producers. Driven by the desire to offer the best of tea, our company is committed to selecting ethical and sustainable teas of the highest quality. Our team of experts are passionate about helping customers choose from more than 250 teas and herbal teas available in our stores in France and around the world. 1 in-house customer service department 1 warehouse in Bussy-Saint-Georges, France More than 1,000 hotels, cafés and restaurants serve Palais des Thés teas 23 countries where you can buy our teas More than 130 company-owned and franchised stores 1 La Manufacture tea center in Georgia All data updated 31 December 2024 . Operating in 10 countries worldwide1986 Palais des Thés founded in Paris 1994 Launch of our magazine Bruits de Palais covering the latest tea news 2001 First staff trip to visit tea producers 2002 First organic teas available 2020 Charity partnership with Karuna-Shechen 2024 Opening of our first Atelier du Vrac stores La Manufacture opened in Georgia, a place where employees learn how to produce tea 1999 Tea School was founded to train staff and teach tea enthusiasts euros in sales (Jan-Dec 2024) 81.1 million tons less plastic used (compared to 34 in 2023 ) 98 employees 68% women, 32% men 511 employees visited tea-growing countries and our partner producers 90 of the teas and herbal teas in our permanent catalogue are certified organic1 58% 1. Organic teas and infusions are being phased into stores and on the website as existing stock runs out, to reduce waste. tons of tea purchased (up from 845 in 2023), 876 including 439 tons of organic tea Key dates in our brand history 2024 key figuresNext >