The most common materials are polypropylene and plant-based (PLA corn starch derived) materials. These two materials are far better than those made of petroleum based plastic. They are also far more environmentally friendly.
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Polypropylene seals tea bags
Many tea brands use polypropylene to seal their tea bags. It is a plastic which can be heat sealed to ensure the bag will retain its shape. However, it is not biodegradable and not recyclable.
In 2010, the top UK tea manufacturers admitted that the plastic sealing element on their tea bags was not biodegradable. As a result, the government set policies to ensure that recycled food waste is collected. This will help to reduce greenhouse gases.
Polypropylene is a non-biodegradable plastic which is used to seal many tea bags. However, it is not the only way to seal a bag. Using plant based materials, such as corn starch, can produce a similar effect.
Another type of sealant is made from polylactic acid, a type of polyester. It is a non-biodegradable material, but can be heat sealed. Some companies are using PLA to seal their bags.
Some brands are moving to more eco-friendly tea bags. Dilmah's Premium tea biodegradable bags are made from natural cellulose fibres. Nerada's pyramid teabags are made of 98% manila hemp. PG Tips tea bags are coated with corn-based plastic.
The American Chemical Society has found that steeping plastic tea bags at 95 degrees Celsius releases billion nanoplastics into the tea. These tiny pieces of plastic are detrimental to our environment. Similarly, ingesting them can cause health issues.
Plant-based (PLA corn-starch derived) material
In recent years, many teabags have been made with PLA, a plant-based, compostable plastic. This material is derived from corn starch, and it has the added benefit of not being toxic to humans or the environment.
It can be composted at home or in commercial facilities. However, it will not break down as fast as conventional oil-based plastics.
There are several ways to recycle these types of tea bags, and they can also be used as tea leaves in your garden. If you are not able to compost them, you can put them in your kerbside bin.
Some teabag manufacturers will advertise that their bags are made from plant-based material. While this can be true, it's important to check out the reviews of the brands. You may be surprised that they don't actually claim that their tea bags are compostable.
For example, Nemi, a London-based tea company, makes biodegradable and recyclable teabags. They're also Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certified. Moreover, they have a mission to keep our world healthy and sustainable.
A few years ago, Unilever's PG Tips switched from oil-based plastic to PLA. The switch was driven by consumer pressure. Since then, most of the UK tea industry has been moving towards this type of packaging.
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Polypropylene is better than petroleum-derived plastic
When it comes to tea bags, some manufacturers have gone the extra mile to make their products more environmentally friendly. In fact, some of these companies have even moved to using more planet-friendly materials instead of the usual polypropylene.
There are several big names that have committed to going green, such as Lipton and Waitrose. Sainsbury's also announced plans to transition from polypropylene to PLA. However, these changes may take some time.
For example, PG tips continues to test out a biodegradable seal for their teabags. Not all of their boxes will indicate this switch.
The same is true of Yogi tea, which is known for its range of products. Some of their teabags are made of hemp. Others are made of wood pulp. They have a timeline for the change, but not a lot is known.
One tea bag that doesn't use polypropylene is the tagless variety. It uses a combination of plant-based fibres to help shape the teabags in hot water.
A heat sealed tea compostable bags is also an interesting technology. These aren't entirely biodegradable, but they are definitely better than polypropylene.
This is a big deal. Polypropylene releases billions of microplastic particles when it's heated. Fortunately, these can be removed from the tea bag and composted.
Abel & Cole
Abel & Cole sells a range of biodegradable tea bags. They have been providing organic produce for over 30 years and are passionate about sustainable packaging. Their products use materials that are 100% biodegradable.
Their packaging is made from compostable polyethylene (PE). It's sealed using heat to ensure that the material does not leak.
Another way to reduce your plastic footprint is to choose loose leaf tea. It's better for your health, tastes better, and doesn't require the use of a tea bag. Plus, it breaks down faster, yielding more soil for the environment.
While some brands make their tea bags out of polypropylene, others are fully biodegradable. Twinings has started to use more plant-based materials for their teabags.
Some of their teabags are 80% organic. Tielka's Fair Trade teas are plastic-free. This company also uses a plant-based fabric and cotton string for their string and tag teabags.
Lipton makes quality black and intense traditional teabags, but the company is putting a lot of thought into developing plastic-free products. The company's Quality Black and Intense tea bags are made from cellulose fibres and Manilla hemp.
Celestial Seasonings is another brand that is committed to sustainability. Their tea bags are plastic free, but contain trace amounts of corn starch and an ultrasound seal.
Clipper
Clipper Teas has changed its Compostable Packaging to make tea bags completely biodegradable. In fact, it is the first British brand to do so.
This year, Clipper switched to PLA, a plant derived plastic. The company says that the new material is better for the environment. And, it will save the brand at least 20 tonnes of metalised plastic a year.
Polypropylene is the type of plastic that most tea bags are made of. It helps them keep their shape and prevents them from falling apart.
But it isn't the only kind of plastic that is used. Other teabags are made from cotton or other natural, renewable materials.
Some other tea companies are also developing products that are plastic free. Yorkshire Tea, for example, is planning to release a range of tea bags that are renewable and compostable. These are still being developed, though, and the company has called their initial attempt a "bit of a disaster".
PG Tips has launched a fully biodegradable tea bag this year. Meanwhile, the Co-Op is launching a range of plastic free bags. Both companies are members of the UK Plastics Pact, which is led by Wrap.
A campaign group, 38 Degrees, is urging PG Tips to ditch polypropylene. Their petition calls for the brand to go fully plastic free by the end of this year.
Qi Tea
Qi Tea is one of the most environmentally friendly teas available today. It is an organic, plastic-free and flower extract-based tea. In addition, it uses veggie ink for its packaging.
The tea bags and envelopes used by Qi Tea are all 100% recyclable. While this may not seem like a major concern, the amount of plastic used in teabags is staggering. Some teabags contain up to a billion micro-plastic particles per bag, which can be harmful to the environment and the human body.
However, Qi Tea is still working on finding a replacement for its wrapper. It is trying to find an alternative substrate that is completely non-toxic and biodegradable. They are also working on finding a way to manufacture their tea bags in a way that does not damage the environment.
Many teabag manufacturers use polypropylene to seal their products. Plastic is a non-biodegradable material. Polypropylene is not recyclable, so it is not good for the environment. Aside from the plastic, many of these products also contain chemical additives that can be hazardous to the environment and the human body.
One of the most popular substitutes for plastic teabags is cotton. Cotton is an inexpensive and strong material that is both soft and flexible. As such, it is a good substitute for plastic.
Tetley
One of the biggest tea companies in the world is Tetley. This British brand was founded in 1837. They produce a variety of different blends of tea. The company also makes two types of tea bags.
First, there are Tetley lipton tea bags. These bags are made of unbleached paper. They are heat-sealed to prevent the tea from spilling out. It is important to note that the bags themselves contain a small amount of plastic.
However, some companies are moving toward biodegradable bags. There are some brands like Luzianne, Abel & Cole, SoilOn, and Trader Joe's that are made of compostable materials. Some of these brands also make bags out of cornstarch.
Another brand that is making the switch to biodegradable tea bags is Stash. Their tea bags are made of 100% wood cellulose fibers.
If you're concerned about the environment, you may want to consider drinking loose leaf tea. Teabags, on the other hand, will break down quickly in a compost bin. While they might be better for the environment than their plastic counterparts, it's important to be aware of the differences between the two.
Plastics are also not good for the environment. Many of the tea bags you use are made from a blend of plastic and paper. Even if you use a biodegradable tea bag, you'll still be throwing out a lot of plastic.
