When it comes to teabags, there are different types which use different types of plastic, and use it in different ways, but the majority still contain plastic.
There’s the regular pressed paper teabags (the ones with the crimped edges). These contain plastic. The main reason is that these crimped tea bags are pressed shut using heat, and the plastic melts to seal them together. Typically the paper in these contain 20 – 30% plastic.
Then there’s the premium ‘silken’ type, which are always made from plastic (not silk, like the name suggests).
The only teabag type that might be plastic-free is the string-and-tag variety: these can be folded shut and secured with a knot or a staple. But many suppliers of these teabags still choose to use paper with plastic fibers for added strength.
Plastic-free teabags
There are two solutions for plastic-free tea.
- Paper teabags that do not use plastic as reinforcement
Brands that have confirmed that they do not use plastic in their string-and-tag teabags include Tea Tonic, Pukka teas (although their envelopes are plastic) and Clipper (string-and-tag only: the pressed ones contain plastic).
Here is a list of brands with and without plastic in their tea bags.
2. Use loose leaf tea
The lowest waste option is to buy loose leaf tea. You can use tea infusers. It’s a great way to make a single cup of tea. Or you can also use refillable cotton bags.
Source: treadingmyownpath.com
