Driving sustainability in tea bags

Tea baggage have come underneath scrutiny attributable to issues associated to plastic utilization, recyclability, compostability and biodegradability. Bagged tea stays a related selection for its comfort, however manufacturers want to search out workable sustainability options to satisfy client expectations.

In Germany, 39% of shoppers cite sustainable packaging because the issue that will set off them to change tea manufacturers. Moreover, 43% of US shoppers suppose espresso/tea manufacturers ought to prioritise sustainable packaging.

Tea bag producers wish to varied choices to finish using plastic in tea baggage. Petroleum-based plastics similar to polypropylene are historically used as sealants in tea baggage.

Shoppers now anticipate their tea baggage to be plastic-free to keep away from microplastics of their tea, with 25% of Thai shoppers prepared to pay extra for tea packaged in plastic-free baggage.

One response to the demand for plastic-free tea baggage is the rising use of bio-based biodegradable polymers, similar to polylactic acid (PLA), that are produced from renewable sources similar to corn. Many PLA tea baggage are marketed as plant-based, biodegradable or compostable attributable to using bio-based elements versus petroleum-based plastics.

Nonetheless, PLA tea baggage don’t naturally degrade within the atmosphere and require an industrial composting course of for biodegradation, as outlined within the United Nations Environmental Program’s ‘Single-use plastics: A roadmap for sustainability’.

Given the restricted biodegradability of PLA-based tea baggage, tea manufacturers can discover an alternate resolution: bagless tea dips.

Woolah in India has launched a plastic-free, bagless tea dip that also provides comfort. As a substitute of tea baggage, Woolah’s unbroken complete tea leaves are compressed with a string connected to them. These compressed tea leaves unfurl when steeped in boiling water.

Woolah’s teas declare to be brewable as much as 3 times or till the flavour diminishes and the tea leaves can naturally biodegrade; Mintel GNPD

Tea bag producers usually use the phrases ‘compostable’ and ‘biodegradable’ interchangeably when selling their eco-friendly tea baggage.

In India, a big 70% of shoppers are conscious that the majority packaging labelled as ‘compostable’ can solely be composted at an industrial facility moderately than at residence (e.g. one’s backyard or yard). Practically the identical proportion (69%) understands that ‘degradable’ and ‘biodegradable’ packaging are distinct ideas.

This consciousness highlights the necessity for manufacturers to be clear concerning the precise situations vital for his or her packaging to be really compostable. For example, Dilmah New Zealand has made it clear on its web site and packaging that its PLA tea baggage should endure industrial composting.

Tea manufacturers can give attention to guaranteeing that their tea baggage are totally home-compostable, catering to shoppers who already observe residence composting.

Tea baggage produced from supplies that may be composted at residence are perfect for shoppers in areas the place industrial composting of family waste is unavailable, and compostable packaging isn’t collected curbside.

Residence-compostable tea baggage are nonetheless comparatively new, with lower than 1% of tea baggage launched globally claiming to be appropriate for residence composting within the 12 months to July 2023, in keeping with Mintel GNPD.

Tea baggage with residence composting accreditation present assurance to shoppers in search of to compost their used tea baggage at residence. Manufacturers like Duchy by Waitrose within the UK and Healtheries in New Zealand have obtained accreditation for his or her home-compostable tea baggage with info obtainable on their web sites.

Strengthening the Attraction of Sustainable Tea Bag Packaging

The messaging on tea bag packaging performs a significant function in demonstrating their sustainability credentials. With 70% of Indian shoppers having bought merchandise with sustainable packaging previously six months via October 2022, it’s important for sustainable tea baggage to successfully talk their eco-friendly attributes on the packaging. This want turns into extra pronounced as extra tea baggage function environmentally pleasant claims on their packaging.

This text first appeared within the October 2023 print situation of WhatPackaging Journal.