Twinings: Organic Pure Camomile, Organic Pure Peppermint & Organic Fairtrade English Breakfast, Waitrose own-brand caffeinated tea bags, Lidl own brand (1-2% of non-biodegradable polymers present in 2021), Yorkshire Tea (bags are plant-based but outer packaging on box is plastic). And most of us tea-drinkers choose tea bags rather than tea leaves 96% in fact. Pukka Herbs tea bags are free of plastic, tied together with organic cotton and are fully compostable. The findings were published in the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology. "For our 3 Organic blends we are in the process of sourcing a certified, non-GM biodegradable plant-based tea paper that doesnt compromise on taste, and we look to move these blends to the new material as soon as possible.". And that's not the only problem, research from McGill University in Canada also found that some types of tea bag leak millions of plastic particles into our drinks not only from the sealing plastic but from the bag itself. Country Living explore which tea bag brands are plastic-free, recyclable and biodegradable, from supermarket own brand tea bags to the main tea brands sold across the UK. Country Living spoke to Asda in 2021 about their own brand tea bags which, at that time, were not plastic-free. The teabags are 100% plant based and industrially compostable for disposal via kerbside food, garden and household waste. Even the ink on the label is vegetable-based, and everything is sealed with heat so no glue! So, even when you put all your used tea bags in the food waste or compost heap, it can lead to plastic pollution, as not all of it will be broken down.

We also share reviews from other retailers' websites to help you make an informed decision. You can read Lidl's sustainability updates here. I was also very happy with the prompt delivery service to my local store.

As a delivery service for organic food and drink produce, Abel & Cole sell a range of other tea bag brands, most of which are listed below. And good news, they found it! These plastic tea bags are more often linked to the higher end brands. In 2021, we asked Lidl for an update on their own brand tea bags and they said in a statement: "The vast majority of tea bags we sell are biodegradable, with just 1-2% of non-biodegradable polymers present in our round tea bags, which is used to help create the seal. This does not affect your statutory rights. You can read Twinning's sustainability updates here. These tea bags are still suitable for composting and can either be recycled in home compost bins or added to food waste collections. You can read Pukka Herbs's sustainability updates here. Clipper tea bags are also unbleached. This information was correct at the time of publishing. Expands to accomodate contents. This content is imported from {embed-name}. teapigs liquorice A Waitrose spokesperson told CL in July 2022 that: "We've changed the adhesive in all of our own brand caffeinated tea bags to a plant-based alternative. You should always read the product label and not rely solely on the information provided on the website. You can find out more about our switch to plant-based tea bags here.". Their organic Duchy range does claim to be completely recyclable on their website although the materials used to make the bag itself are not listed. On their website (the link is no longer available), they said: "Pukka doesnt use this kind of material. This plastic is not recyclable or biodegradable. Reviews are submitted by our customers directly through our website. You can read Aldi's sustainability updates here. Instead, we use a simple stitch of organic cotton and a unique folding process. They said: "We are always looking at innovative ways to make our products and packaging as sustainable as possible, its something our customers and colleagues are really passionate about. As a result, our tea temples are fully compostable with your food waste collection.". Organic Pure Camomile, Organic Pure Peppermint & Organic Fairtrade English Breakfast). A statement on Aldi's website reads: "By the end of 2021, Aldi has committed to removing single-use plastic from our own label tea bags, switching to biodegradable tea bags and removing the outer plastic packaging. They said: "Co-op has phased out tea bags that contain polypropylene, which is an oil-based plastic, and transitioned to a compostable bioplastic (PLA). "Our teabags are certified industrially compostable; this means they can be placed inside your local food recycling bin. The website reads: "Our mission to eliminate single use packaging has taken a big step forward with the introduction of a new reusable Tetley tin. In good news, PG Tips have made the move to completely biodegradable, plant-based, plastic-free tea bags. While every care has been taken to ensure product information is correct, food products are constantly being reformulated, so ingredients, nutrition content, dietary and allergens may change. You can read Clipper's sustainability updates here. You can read Teapigs' sustainability updates here. The packaging they come in is made using paper and biodegradable PE and is oxo-biodegradable. You can read Abel & Cole's sustainability updates here. Together, this will remove 80 tonnes of plastic per year.". Country Living asked Tesco for an update on their own brand tea bags in 2021 and they confirmed they had been working with their supplier to develop a biodegradable tea bag which was to be tested in stores. As a result we have prevented tonnes of polypropylene plastic from entering the waste stream. On their website they say: "Youll be very pleased to hear that our tea temples have never contained plastic. So far, we have produced 163 million, with the number growing every minute. Well raise a cuppa to that!". This problem is linked to tea bags where the actual bag itself is made out of plastic material, not the paper bags that are more common. Those, in turn, end up in the drinker's digestive system. "We're continuing to trial options for decaf teabags and are working closely with our suppliers to find further sustainable solutions for our own brand ranges.". This is what they plan to change next. Our move towards plant-based teabags required significant time and multiple trials to ensure that our customers receive the same great quality teabag and is yet another example of how were implementing new innovative products that will reduce the impact our business has on the environment.. Tesco also said they were working to reduce the size of tea cartons and to ensure that any plastic packaging could be recycled at their soft plastic recycling points. You can read PG Tips's sustainability updates here. Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, paper tea bags sealed with a plastic glue that makes them non-recyclable or compostable, plastic tea bags (the actual bag is made out of plastic, not paper) that begin to breakdown when put into hot water, plastic leaking from tea bags into the cup and, in turn, into the drinker. You can read Co-op's sustainability updates here. This is all part of their 4Rs strategy: remove plastic where they can, reduce it where they can't, reuse more and recycle what's left. We were the first company to ever use organic strings to hold our tea bags together without the need of a metal staple or polypropylene.". You can read Asda's sustainability updates here. Our tea boffins have been busy finding a replacement for polypropylene. "All Co-ops own brand tea, including its Fairtrade Red 99 tea, fruit tea and infusions, have switched to compostable bioplastic (PLA).". The scientists found that one plastic tea bag releases around 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion smaller nanoplastic particles into the cup. Used around bubblewrap, they reduce the weight of the package, thereby saving on postage. You can read Tesco's sustainability updates here. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Save 35% on these beeswax wraps in Amazons sale, 6 laundry tips to reduce microfibre pollution, 10 things Brits would give up to save the planet, Recycling expert on Christmas wrapping mistakes, 13 recycling mistakes you're probably making, 10 ways to turn children's eco anxiety into action, Plastic-free tea bags: The brands that don't contain plastic and the brands that still do, Country Living, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. The Yorkshire Tea website says: "The bags in all our regular UK Yorkshire Tea boxes are now plant based. They are made using SoilOn and are biodegradable. They said: "We are pleased to confirm that 99% of our range is now either loose leaf or made from a plant/cellulose derived material (excl. They have since launched their new Tetley tin as part of the Tesco Loop Trial. The label on the end of the string is made from simple, old-fashioned paper. "In a first for the UK, the new Tetley tins, containing 80 biodegradable tea bags, will be available in 10 Tesco stores as part of a trial to introduce the Loop Zero Waste system into supermarkets and convenience stores.". Clipper announced in October 2018 that they had created what they believed to be the first ever completely plastic-free bag, made using natural plant-based materials. And, the best bit is thats biodegradable and certified by The Soil Association through EU organic regulation. This means that everything inside our boxes of tea are now plant-based. Despite claiming to be 99% biodegradable, as of April 2021, Tetley tea bags did contain a small amount of plastic. Most of the bag is made from natural fibres like wood pulp and the seal is made with PLA - an industrially compostable, plant-based plastic which is much better for the environment when it's properly disposed of. You can read more on the process and detail here. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. I use these bags to send items to my family in Canada. Although product information is regularly updated, Tesco is unable to accept liability for any incorrect information. If you have any queries, or you'd like advice on any Tesco brand products, please contact Tesco Customer Services, or the product manufacturer if not a Tesco brand product. Addressing their proposed plastic-free bag, the website reads: "With 9 million to convert, we cant change all of our bags at once, but were starting with our big sellers of lovely Tetley Original 120s and 240s. This information is supplied for personal use only, and may not be reproduced in any way without the prior consent of Tesco Stores Limited nor without due acknowledgement. We are continuing to work with our suppliers to explore alternative materials that can be used instead of these polymers.". You can read Sainsbury's sustainability updates here. High burst strength & puncture resistant.Flexible material. You can read Waitrose's sustainability updates here.

In the past, we did use a small amount of polypropylene (the most common type of plastic) as the seal to keep our signature pyramid teabags structure intact. You can read Yorkshire Tea's sustainability updates here. We are working hard with our suppliers to look at a number of products this year that we can make more sustainable and our teabags are certainly one line we are reviewing.". The outer wrap on their tea boxes is made from oil-based plastic (polypropylene).

Several tea bag brands use polypropylene, a sealing plastic, to keep their tea bags from falling apart. Products you add to your basket will appear here, POSTSAFE MAILING BAGS EXTRASTRONG ASSORTED 5PK, Waterproof, lightweight, strong & puncture resistant. They aimed to launch these bags in full later in 2021. The temples and the string attached are made from cornstarch, a natural carbohydrate extracted from corn. For any brands not mentioned, check their website or customer care contact. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. This means we dont need to use polypropylene to hold our teabags together and our teabags are therefore free from plastic. We are currently undergoing certification to be home compostable in the UK, however, the material we use has been certified industrially compostable by TUV Austria. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation at Sainsburys, told CL in July 2022 that: Last year we launched our first plant-based own brand tea bags, switching 859 million individual teabags a year from oil-based to plant-based plastic. On their website, it explains: "PG tips Pyramid tea bags are mostly made of paper. With these, you simply make your cup of tea as usual before putting the tea bag in your food waste bin or compost. This information is based on our research and may have changed since publication. Were working on a number of green packaging options, including reducing our packaging weight and improving our recyclability.". i am very pleased to report that I am delighted with these Mailing Bags which were excellent value - strong and secure. On their website (the link is no longer available), they said: "SoilOn is a corn-starch which incorporates biomass material (polylactic acid) originating from plants. Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Its a plant-based material derived from corn. But are you aware that some tea bags contain plastic? On their website, they say: "We switched to a plant-based, fully biodegradable bio-material over a year ago. I bought several packs on-line & hoped that I would not regret the purchase. Surface is easy to write on. Several tea bag brands use polypropylene, a sealing plastic, to keep the tea bags from falling apart. "We want to get these new bags into the market as soon as possible, so for now were putting the new bags into our current packaging. We asked the Co-op to comment on their own brand tea bags in July 20222. Drinking tea is a very British tradition so much so that we consume 60.2 billion cups of tea each year, according to the UK Tea and Infusions Association. "It will be a little time until you see our new biodegradable pack artwork - but it will be coming to a shelf near you in the not too distant future - so keep your eyes peeled! Weatherproof, waterproof. We contacted Twinings in June 2022. Theyre also glue free as theyre sealed together with heat.". Abel & Cole's own-brand tea bags are plastic-free. You can read Tetley's sustainability updates here. "In the meantime, keep checking in here to see how we are getting on with transitioning your favourite tea.". Teapigs products include plastic-free tea bags that are also biodegradable.

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