What Sustainability Means at CatSpring Yaupon

At CatSpring Yaupon, sustainability isn’t a buzzword — it’s a responsibility.

Our stewardship isn't a claim, it's certified. CatSpring Yaupon is the most rigorously certified yaupon producers in the country: FairWild Certified (the first yaupon producer in the USA to earn it), Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC, again the first yaupon producer to earn), USDA Organic, and Whole Kosher certified.

When we talk about sustainability, we mean every step of our process is designed to support the land, the people who harvest it, and the communities it sustains, today and for generations to come.

Yaupon has grown wild in Texas for centuries. Our job is not to force it to grow — but to steward what already exists, restoring balance rather than extracting value.

Wild-Harvested, Not Farmed

All of our yaupon is wild-grown on ranches around Cat Spring, Texas, where it has thrived naturally long before modern agriculture.

• No monocropping

• No clear-cutting

• No forced cultivation

Wild harvesting allows yaupon to remain part of a healthy grassland ecosystem — one where native plants, wildlife, and working ranches coexist.

No Added Water

Unlike coffee or imported teas that rely on heavy irrigation, yaupon grows entirely on rainwater and sunshine.

• Coffee can require up to 37 gallons of water per cup

• Our yaupon uses zero added water from ranch to harvest

• The only water involved is what you add when brewing

This makes yaupon one of the most water-conscious caffeinated beverages available.

Hand-Harvested With Care

Our yaupon is hand harvested, not machine cut.

• Minimizes soil disruption

• Protects native grasses

• Preserves long-term plant health

By harvesting thoughtfully, we ensure yaupon continues to regenerate season after season — without degrading the land that supports it. 

Conservation-Led Harvesting

Sustainability doesn’t stop at harvest — it starts with thoughtful planning.

We work alongside master gardeners, native grass specialists, and conservationists to shape harvesting practices that respect both the yaupon plant and the landscape it grows within. By taking a long-term view, we’re able to support the health of yaupon while strengthening the ecosystems that surround it.

Our approach is designed to:

• Support the long-term vitality of individual yaupon plants

• Restore native grasslands and regional biodiversity

By working with the land instead of against it, yaupon becomes a partner in restoration, helping these Texas landscapes regenerate season after season.

Our Certifications

Anyone can call a product sustainable. We hold the certifications that prove it, verified by independent standards bodies rather than by us.

FairWild Certified
FairWild is the global standard for sustainable wild-harvesting. It verifies that wild plants are gathered in ways that protect the species and its ecosystem, and that the people who harvest them are treated and paid fairly. CatSpring is the first yaupon producer in the USA to earn it.

Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC): Silver
ROC is the highest standard in regenerative agriculture. It builds on USDA Organic and adds rigorous requirements for soil health, land stewardship, and the fair treatment of workers. Our yaupon is fully Regenerative Organic Certified and we have been since ROC launched. 

USDA Organic
Certified organic through CCOF, meaning our yaupon is grown and processed without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, or GMOs.

Whole Kosher Certified
Our yaupon meets kosher dietary standards, independently verified by Whole Kosher Services.

Together, these certifications reflect a single commitment: to steward the land, the plant, and the people who harvest it, and to be able to prove it at every step.

Sustainable Packaging

We believe sustainability should extend beyond the leaf and all the way to how our yaupon reaches you.

All of our packaging is designed with sustainability in mind, balancing environmental responsibility with the need to protect freshness and quality.

This includes:

• Tea bags that are free from plastic and microplastics

• Fully recyclable packaging, including boxes, yaupon pouches, and the bagging used for our loose-leaf tea, with materials designed to be biodegradable

From ranch to shelf, we are committed to using materials that are thoughtful, functional, and aligned with our long-term stewardship of the land.

Sustainability Is a Shared Effort

Sustainability is never a one-person job — or a one-company job.

We build long-term relationships rooted in trust and shared responsibility with:

• Ranch partners, harvesters, and conservation experts

• Customers who care where their energy comes from

By inviting transparency and collaboration into our process, we continue refining what sustainability looks like in practice.

Rooted in the Long Term

Yaupon has survived droughts, climate shifts, and centuries of change by staying rooted.
We’re following its lead.

And even now, we’ve only just begun.