Sofia Martinez
Yorkshire Tea has been working to reduce the amount of plastic in its tea bags and packaging. The company has replaced the oil-based plastic in its tea bags with a plant-based plastic called polylactic acid or PLA. This switch has been implemented in all regular Yorkshire Tea, Yorkshire Gold, Yorkshire Tea Decaf, and Yorkshire Tea for Hard Water boxes. However, some older tea bags containing oil-based plastic may still be on the shelves. In addition to tea bags, Yorkshire Tea is also working on removing plastic from its packaging, such as the plastic wrap from boxes, and making its loose leaf packaging and catering-sized bags recyclable. The company aims for all its packaging to be circular, made from renewable, plant-based, or recycled materials, and reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of plastic | Polypropylene (oil-based plastic) |
| Replacement | Polylactic Acid (PLA) (plant-based plastic) |
| Composition of tea bags | 95% tea, 5% bag |
| Composition of bag | 75% natural fibres (wood pulp, rayon, abaca), 25% polypropylene |
| Status of replacement | About half of UK tea bags have switched to PLA |
| Disposal of PLA tea bags | Pop them in kerbside food waste and garden waste bins for industrial composting |
| Disposal of old tea bags | Put them in the normal bin or take them to some supermarket collection points |
| Other changes | Getting rid of plastic wrap from boxes, making loose leaf packaging and catering-sized bags recyclable |
| Long-term aim | Make all packaging "circular", i.e. made from renewable, plant-based or recycled materials, and reusable, recyclable or compostable |
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What You'll Learn
- Yorkshire Tea bags are now made from plant-based plastic called PLA
- PLA is made from cornstarch and is industrially compostable
- Oil-based plastic was previously used to seal tea bags
- The switch to PLA is part of a collaborative initiative to transform UK plastic packaging
- Other Yorkshire Tea packaging also contains plastic
Yorkshire Tea bags are now made from plant-based plastic called PLA
Yorkshire Tea has been working on replacing the oil-based plastic in its tea bags with a plant-based plastic called polylactic acid or PLA. This switch is part of the company's commitment to sustainability and reducing waste in its factories. The new tea bags are renewable, biodegradable, and compostable, although they are not certified as home compostable and should be disposed of in garden waste or food waste bins for industrial composting.
The bags in all regular UK Yorkshire Tea boxes are now plant-based. The seal of the tea bags is made with PLA, which is industrially compostable and much better for the environment when disposed of properly. The switch to PLA is part of Yorkshire Tea's broader efforts to make its packaging more sustainable. The company aims to remove the plastic wrap from its boxes and make its loose leaf packaging and catering-sized bags recyclable.
Yorkshire Tea's loose tea packs and outer box wrap are currently made from a mix of oil-based plastics, including metallised polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene. The company intends to change this packaging once it has completed its tea bag material switch, as these involve a higher overall volume of plastic. The tea bags themselves are primarily composed of natural fibres like wood pulp, with about 25% being an oil-based plastic sealing material called polypropylene.
The switch to PLA tea bags is a complex process and has encountered some challenges. In 2018, Yorkshire Tea tested PLA on Yorkshire Gold tea bags, but the sealing on some bags failed, causing them to fall apart in people's mugs. The company has also faced difficulties switching its speciality teas, such as Biscuit Brew, Toast & Jam Brew, and Bedtime Brew, to PLA due to their unique shapes and construction. These tea bags are made on separate machines and take longer to reconfigure for PLA paper.
Despite these challenges, Yorkshire Tea is committed to making the switch to PLA tea bags. As of 2022, about half of their UK tea bags have transitioned to PLA, including their regular Yorkshire Tea, Yorkshire Gold, Yorkshire Tea Decaf, and Yorkshire Tea for Hard Water. The company hopes to have fully switched these ranges by June 2023.
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PLA is made from cornstarch and is industrially compostable
Yorkshire Tea is replacing the oil-based plastic in its tea bags with a plant-based plastic called polylactic acid, or PLA. This bioplastic is made from cornstarch and is industrially compostable.
PLA is a newer form of plastic that is made from plants instead of fossil fuels. It is a renewable, plant-based, industrially compostable bioplastic that is much better for the environment when properly disposed of. PLA tea bags are sometimes labelled "biodegradable", "plastic-free", or "home compostable". However, it is important to note that PLA tea bags should not be disposed of in a home compost heap as they require a lot of heat and space to break down. Instead, they should be placed in food waste or garden waste bins for the council to compost.
The switch to PLA tea bags is part of Yorkshire Tea's commitment to sustainability and reducing waste in its factory. The company has also signed up to WRAP's UK Plastics Pact, a collaborative initiative that aims to transform UK plastic packaging and keep plastics out of the natural environment.
While Yorkshire Tea has made significant progress in switching to PLA tea bags, there are still some challenges to overcome. The company has noted that the switch to PLA is "trickier" than expected, and they experienced some issues with sealing the bags properly, resulting in the bags falling apart in people's mugs. Despite these challenges, Yorkshire Tea remains dedicated to making the switch and improving the environmental impact of its products.
In addition to its tea bags, Yorkshire Tea is also working on removing the plastic wrap from its boxes and making its loose leaf packaging and catering-sized bags recyclable. The company aims to make all its packaging circular, which means made from renewable, plant-based, or recycled materials and reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
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Oil-based plastic was previously used to seal tea bags
Yorkshire Tea has been working on replacing the oil-based plastic used to seal their tea bags with a plant-based plastic called polylactic acid or PLA. PLA is a newer form of plastic made from plants (like corn starch) instead of fossil fuels. It is industrially compostable and better for the environment than oil-based plastic when disposed of properly.
The switch to PLA started in 2018 with Yorkshire Gold, but the company encountered issues with the sealing on some bags, causing them to fall apart in people's mugs. Despite the challenges, Yorkshire Tea remains committed to finding better options as technology changes. They have several teams dedicated to reducing waste in their factories, and they reuse and repurpose waste through their community recycling project, the Cone Exchange.
The company has also signed up for WRAP's UK Plastics Pact, a collaborative initiative to transform UK plastic packaging and keep plastics out of the natural environment. Their new tea bags will be renewable, biodegradable, and sealed with plant-based materials. These changes will not affect the tea's flavour, shelf life, or cost.
As of 2021, all boxes of regular Yorkshire Tea, Yorkshire Gold, Yorkshire Tea Decaf, and Yorkshire Tea for Hard Water have been manufactured from PLA. However, there may still be some old tea bags on the shelves, and the company is working to transition their speciality teas and export products to PLA as well.
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The switch to PLA is part of a collaborative initiative to transform UK plastic packaging
Yorkshire Tea has been working to reduce the use of plastic in its products. The company has been replacing the oil-based plastic in its tea bags with a plant-based plastic called polylactic acid or PLA. This plastic is made from plants like corn starch and is industrially compostable. The switch to PLA is part of a collaborative initiative to transform UK plastic packaging and help keep plastics out of the natural environment.
The company has signed up to WRAP's UK Plastics Pact, which is a big collaborative initiative that aims to transform UK plastic packaging and reduce plastic waste in the natural environment. As part of this initiative, Yorkshire Tea aims to make all its packaging "circular". This means that the packaging would be made from renewable, plant-based, or recycled materials and be reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
The switch to PLA is not without its challenges. The company faced issues with the sealing of the tea bags, which resulted in some bags falling apart in people's mugs. Additionally, the smaller products, such as speciality brews and larger catering packs, present unique challenges and will be switched to PLA later.
Yorkshire Tea is also working on removing the plastic wrap from its boxes and making its loose leaf packaging and catering-sized bags recyclable. The company aims to make all its products carbon neutral and reduce waste in its factories. They are also working on making their tea bags GMO-free for international markets.
The switch to PLA is a step towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging. By replacing oil-based plastic with plant-based alternatives, Yorkshire Tea is contributing to the larger initiative of transforming UK plastic packaging and promoting circular packaging solutions.
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Other Yorkshire Tea packaging also contains plastic
Yorkshire Tea has been working to reduce the plastic in its packaging and make it more environmentally friendly. The company has switched to plant-based tea bags, which are made from natural fibres like wood pulp and are sealed with polylactic acid, or PLA, a plant-based plastic. This switch began in 2021, and by 2022, about half of the UK Yorkshire Tea bags had transitioned to the new material. The company has also made all its products carbon neutral.
However, other Yorkshire Tea packaging also contains plastic. The outer wrap on Yorkshire Tea boxes, for example, is made of plastic and is not currently recyclable. The company has expressed its intention to remove this plastic packaging and replace it with a more sustainable alternative. In addition, the loose tea packs are made from a mix of oil-based plastics, including metallised polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene, which are also not recyclable. Yorkshire Tea has acknowledged that these packs need to be changed, and they plan to do so after completing the tea bag material switch.
The company has also acknowledged that its speciality teas, such as Biscuit Brew, Toast & Jam Brew, and Bedtime Brew, are heat-sealed with polypropylene plastic. These tea bags are a different shape and construction from the regular tea bags and are made on separate machines, which has caused delays in transitioning to the new plant-based paper. Furthermore, the larger catering packs also contain plastic, and the company intends to switch these to a more sustainable alternative.
Yorkshire Tea has expressed its long-term ambition for all its packaging to become "circular," meaning made from renewable, plant-based, or recycled materials and being reusable, recyclable, or compostable. They are actively working towards this goal, but it is a complex process that requires time and technological advancements. The company is committed to reducing waste and has teams dedicated to finding better options as technology changes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Yorkshire Tea contains plastic. However, the company is replacing the oil-based plastic in its tea bags with a plant-based plastic called polylactic acid (PLA).
PLA is a newer form of plastic made from plants (like cornstarch) instead of fossil fuels. It is better for the environment than oil-based plastic and can be industrially composted by local councils.
No, the new tea bags are not plastic-free. While they are made from plant-based materials, they still contain plastic. However, they are renewable, biodegradable, and compostable.
The new tea bags are industrially compostable, so they can be disposed of in food waste or garden waste bins for the council to compost. They should not be disposed of in home compost bins as they require higher heat and more space to break down.
The company is working towards making all its products circular, which means made from renewable, plant-based, or recycled materials and being reusable, recyclable, or compostable. However, some products, such as their speciality teas, are taking longer to switch to PLA due to different shapes, construction, and export requirements.
