About Runa

Runa produces and markets beverages made from the naturally caffeinated leaves of the Amazonian guayusa tree. Guayusa (gwhy-you-sa), a native Amazonian tree leaf that is brewed like tea, provides clear and focused energy - what the indigenous Kichwa people call “mental strength and courage.” 

In the Ecuadorian Amazon, indigenous communities arise at dawn to drink guayusa around a communal fire, and share stories, myths, and songs. Thus, it is one of the original forms of social networking, outdating facebook and twitter by at least 3,000 years. Runa has grown as an enterprise with this community focus at heart, and joining the B Corp community was a natural choice that allows us to build deeper partnerships with, triple-bottom-line organizations.

Runa began as a conversation over tea, during the hours before sunrise in the Amazon rainforest. In the winter of 2008, a team of students traveled to the Ecuadorian Amazon to participate in an ancestral tea ceremony with the Kichwa people - a tradition of storytelling, music, and learning – all centered around a large boiling pot of guayusa tea over a burning fire. While drinking guayusa tea together, the communities shared a vision to expand their circle and bring their traditional daily guayusa tea to friends around the world.

Collectively, they envisioned a business that could share this rich-tasting tea – a business that would respect cultural traditions, support small farmers, and maintain the integrity of the Amazon rainforest.

Runa, meaning “fully living human being,” continues to grow from this seed of conversation and exchange. The company is energized to share this tea tradition with a global community.

The Change We Seek®

Runa works with indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon to promote sustainable development. Runa accomplishes this through three main work areas:

• Economic development – Runa has created a new market for guayusa. While widely consumed throughout indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon, farmers have never had access to sell guayusa on the international market. By creating a Fair Trade market for guayusa, Runa has generated an alternative income stream that continues to raise the standard of living of indigenous farmers. Runa pays an additional 15% social premium to the Napo Runa Artisan Association that funds a savings account used for community development projects.
• Social empowerment –Fundación Runa, our non-profit partner, works with the Napo Runa Artisan Association of guayusa producers to promote democracy and transparency in the association. By strengthening the association, farmers have a democratic forum to organize themselves and vocalize their needs and demands. Fundación Runa also works with farmers at the household level to improve financial literacy and empower women to think as entrepreneurs.
• Environmental management – Beyond our organic certification, Runa seeks to use guayusa as vehicle for good environmental stewardship. Fundación Runa, its non-profit partner, works with farmers to research the impacts and benefits guayusa production has on the local environment. Fundación Runa also works with the company's communities to help design land management plans that designate conservation areas and forest reserves.

Runa

• Industry: Other
• Product/Services: Tea
• Location: Brooklyn, NY
• Ownership: Private
• http://www.runa.org