Chloe Zhang
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues of our time, and tea bags are a surprisingly large contributor. Plastic is added to tea bags to help heat seal them during manufacture, but this means that tea bags are not biodegradable and release microplastics into the environment. These microplastics can end up in the soil, water, and even our bodies. With 165 million cups of tea drunk in Britain each day, that's a lot of plastic pollution. Some tea manufacturers have responded to consumer pressure and removed plastic from their tea bags, but many have not. So, are Typhoo tea bags plastic-free?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic content in tea bags | Polypropylene, a type of plastic, is added to paper tea bags to help heat seal them during manufacture. |
| Typhoo tea bags plastic content | Typhoo's string and tag tea bags do not contain plastic as they are folded. However, other tea bags within the Typhoo range do contain plastic. |
| Environmental impact of plastic tea bags | Plastic tea bags release microplastics into the soil and water, posing a risk to wildlife and potentially human health. |
| Plastic-free alternatives | Reusable paper or cotton tea bags, loose leaf tea with a metal strainer, or tea infusers. |
| Typhoo's efforts to reduce plastic | Typhoo has stated that they are working on plastic-free alternatives and have partnered with Co-op to create a fully biodegradable paper tea bag. |
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What You'll Learn
Typhoo tea bags contain PLA
Typhoo tea bags are made from polylactic acid (PLA), a plant-based "plastic" derived from corn sugar, sugar cane, corn, cassava, maize, or sugar beet pulp. PLA is considered a bioplastic because it is made from plant materials. It requires less energy to produce than traditional petroleum-based plastics and is technically biodegradable under international standards. However, it can only degrade under industrial composting conditions, not in home compost bins.
While Typhoo tea bags are marketed as plastic-free, they are not entirely free of plastic due to the presence of PLA. This has sparked concerns about the potential release of microplastics into tea during the brewing process, which has been confirmed by studies. One study found that steeping a plastic tea bag at brewing temperature releases approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into a single cup.
The use of PLA in tea bags is controversial. Some people view it as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastics, while others criticise it as a form of greenwashing. The health effects of ingesting PLA are also unknown, and some consumers choose to avoid it.
To address the environmental and health concerns associated with plastic tea bags, some tea brands are transitioning to PLA-based materials. However, it is important to note that PLA tea bags cannot be composted at home and require industrial composting conditions for biodegradation. Consumers who wish to avoid plastic in their tea bags can consider alternative options such as loose leaf tea and reusable strainers.
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PLA is a bioplastic
Typhoo tea bags are made of PLA, which stands for polylactic acid. PLA is a bioplastic made from renewable, plant-based materials like corn, cassava, maize, sugarcane, or sugar beet pulp. It is a polyester made from fermented plant starch.
PLA is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional petroleum-based plastic as it requires less energy to produce. It is also technically biodegradable under international standards, although it can only degrade under industrial composting conditions. This means that tea bags with PLA cannot be composted at home, even if the packaging labels them as 'biodegradable'. The composting process for PLA starts with chemical hydrolysis, followed by microbial digestion, to ultimately degrade the PLA. Under industrial composting conditions of 58 °C (136 °F), PLA can decompose into water and carbon dioxide, although this process is slow.
PLA is also used in 3D printing due to its highly suitable thermal and mechanical properties. It is one of the first renewable polymers capable of competing with conventional polymers in terms of performance and environmental impact. PLA emits three times less CO2 than conventional plastics and is already available on the market.
However, some critics argue that the use of PLA in tea bags is an act of greenwashing, as consumers cannot compost them at home. Additionally, growing crops and using fertilizers for PLA production can impact land and waterways. PLA packaging can also be more expensive than conventional plastic due to the number of steps required in the production process.
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PLA is not compostable at home
Typhoo tea bags are made from PLA, a bioplastic made from plant materials such as corn sugar or sugar cane. PLA is technically biodegradable but requires industrial composting conditions to break down. This means that PLA tea bags cannot be composted at home, even if the packaging labels them as 'biodegradable'.
PLA requires high temperatures to compost properly. For biodegradation to occur, the temperature must be maintained between 111 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. In comparison, the temperature of a home compost pile is typically lower than that of industrial composting facilities, making it unlikely for PLA to completely biodegrade in a home setting.
The volume of waste is also a factor. Most individuals do not produce enough waste to create a functional hot compost pile, which is necessary for PLA to reach the required temperature for biodegradation.
While PLA is a more environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional plastics, it is not a solution for home composting. To properly dispose of PLA tea bags, cut open the bag, compost the tea leaves, and dispose of the bag in the landfill bin.
It is worth noting that Typhoo Tea is working on a fully compostable tea bag. While their current tea bags contain a small amount of plastic, they recognize the importance of providing an environmentally-friendly alternative and are actively working towards a solution.
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Plastic is added to tea bags to heat seal them
Heat sealing tea bags means that they won't come open in the box or in your cup. However, this also means that these tea bags are not 100% biodegradable. When these tea bags are composted, they leave microplastics in the soil. A study has shown that steeping a plastic-based tea bag releases around 11.6 billion microplastics into a single cup of tea.
Some tea bag manufacturers have started to use polylactic acid (PLA) instead of polypropylene. PLA is a bioplastic made from plant materials such as corn sugar or sugar cane. It is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional petroleum-based plastic as it requires less energy to produce. However, PLA is not without its drawbacks. It is only biodegradable under industrial composting conditions and cannot be composted at home.
In response to consumer pressure and campaigns, some tea manufacturers have started to remove plastic from their tea bags. For example, PG Tips announced it was going 'plastic-free' for its pyramid bags after a petition was signed by 200,000 people in 2018. Other companies, such as Pukka and Teapigs, offer tea bags and packaging that are entirely plastic-free.
Typhoo tea bags have been a subject of discussion regarding their plastic content. While their string and tag bags are plastic-free as they are folded, other tea bags within the Typhoo range do contain plastic. The company has stated that they are working on plastic-free alternatives and are partnering with Co-op and Ahlstrom-Munksj to create a fully biodegradable paper tea bag.
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Alternatives to plastic tea bags
Plastic is added to teabags to prevent them from falling apart over time and to act as a glue to stop the paper from degrading when boiling water is poured on it. However, this has led to a huge problem, with every teabag that ends up in landfills or compost heaps introducing microplastics into the environment. These microplastics then release toxins and chemicals.
There are several alternatives to plastic teabags that are more environmentally friendly and do not introduce microplastics into the environment. One option is to use PLA (polylactic acid) teabags, which are made from plant materials such as corn sugar or sugarcane. PLA is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional plastics as it requires less energy to produce and is technically biodegradable. However, it can only degrade under industrial composting conditions, so it cannot be composted at home. Some people also consider the use of PLA in teabags as greenwashing, as it is not truly plastic-free and can take a long time to decompose in the body.
Another alternative to plastic teabags is to use tea bags made from abaca and cornstarch, which release fewer microplastics compared to traditional teabags. Cornstarch is a popular choice as it is affordable and biodegradable. Other plant-based materials that can be used to make plastic-free tea bags include maize, cassava, and polylactic.
Some tea brands that offer plastic-free tea bags include Qi Tea, Pukka Herbs, Yogi Tea, Red Rose Tea, Salada Tea, and Higher Living Teas. Qi Tea teabags are made from unbleached paper with organic cotton, while Pukka Herbs tea bags are held together with organic cotton that is fully compostable. Yogi Tea uses abaca plant fibres for their teabags, with organic cotton for the string and FSC®-certified paper for the label. Red Rose Tea and Salada Tea also use abaca fiber as a natural alternative to plastic.
In addition to plastic-free tea bags, there are also reusable options such as stainless steel baskets, metal tea balls, or strainers that can be used instead of tea bags. Loose leaf tea is another option that reduces the amount of plastic used in packaging and shipping.
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Frequently asked questions
Typhoo tea bags contain plastic, but their string and tag bags do not contain any plastic because they are folded. The company has said they are working on plastic-free alternatives.
Plastic is included in tea bags to stop the bags from falling apart with age and to stop the paper from degrading when hot water is poured over it. However, this is a huge problem as every tea bag that ends up in a compost heap introduces microplastics into the environment, which release toxins and chemicals.
PLA stands for polylactic acid, which is a material that is similar to plastic but is made from plant oils instead of unsustainable oil. It is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional petroleum-based plastic as it requires less energy to produce and is biodegradable under international standards. However, it can only degrade under industrial composting conditions, so it cannot be composted at home.
If you want to avoid plastic tea bags, you can use loose leaf tea with a metal strainer or a tea infuser. There are also cotton tea bags that can be filled with loose leaf tea.
