​Are Tetley tea bags compostable? The answer is not really an easy one. There are two main methods of ensuring that your tea bags are compostable. One involves the use of biodegradable material, and the other involves using a plastic sealant. Both methods have their advantages, but in the end, it depends on you.

Biodegradable

A Tetley tea bag may be biodegradable, but it doesn’t mean that you can dump it in the bin and forget about it. Many tea bags are made of plastic, which will not break down in the environment. If you want to do your part for the environment, you can consider buying a teabag that is made from biodegradable materials, like cornstarch or cotton.

A small amount of plastic is often used in tea bags, as a heat seal to prevent them from opening when you pour in the water. The problem is that it takes hundreds of years for polypropylene to decompose.

Some companies have started to switch to biodegradable bags materials. In particular, We Are Tea has moved to soilon, which breaks down within three to six months. They’ve also joined the Ethical Tea Partnership, an organization that works to promote environmentally friendly products.

Tetley Tea Bags, Black and Green, 72 Count (Packaging may vary)

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Plastic sealants

There is a growing movement to change the way tea bags are disposed of. Several tea manufacturers are switching to more eco-friendly materials. However, most teabags still use some form of plastic.

The simplest way to avoid plastic in teabags is to switch to loose tea. This option usually comes in a tin or reusable bag, so you can recycle your waste. You may also want to consider buying paper or biodegradable teabags.

However, you need to check if the Compostable Packaging has a plastic sealant. Teabags with a plastic sealant are not fully biodegradable. They can leave microplastics in the soil or compost. In addition, many tea brands still use polypropylene.

One tea brand that does not use any plastic in their tea bags is Pukka. Their bags are stitched closed without any plastic. Instead, they use organic cotton thread or plant cellulose fibers.

Tetley Tea 240 Bags 2 Pack

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PG tips

The UK’s leading tea brand Tetley is making its tea bags compostable. However, this is not the end of the story.

As of now, Tetley’s pyramid tea compostable bags are made from a small amount of plastic to help the bags keep their seal. But, the brand plans to roll out fully biodegradable plastic teabags in the near future.

PG Tips, the brand owned by Unilever, has also committed to switching to compostable tea bags. Last year, the company introduced a range of corn starch based bags, which have the added benefit of being 80% compostable.

There is a lot of debate over whether or not tea bags are compostable. Some companies claim they are, but others do not. A few manufacturers have even been known to use a plastic-like substance called polylactic acid, or PLA, which is a plant-based plastic.

Tielka’s Fair Trade

Tielka’s Fair Trade tea bags are made from biodegradable materials. They’re manufactured from a plant-based fabric that is derived from sugar cane.

Tielka sources its ingredients from China and Australia. The company also supports fair trade, making sure that the people who produce their teas are treated well.

Tielka has a variety of organic teas to choose from. You can purchase their oolong, green, herbal and loose-leaf teas. Its signature breakfast black tea is grown in high elevations of the Yunnan Province of China.

Tielka also offers an array of unique blends. For example, you can purchase a variety of flavors based on lavender from Victoria and Tasmanian lemon balm. Also, a number of the blends contain naturally mood-enhancing theanine.

As a family-owned business, Tielka is committed to ethical sourcing. In fact, it was recently named Australia’s most awarded organic tea brand.

Neal’s Yard

Many tea companies are starting to move towards biodegradable and plastic-free products. Tetley is one of them. They have started using little glue to seal the bags, and are implementing plastic-free packaging strategies. The company claims that most of its tea bags are plastic free, but they will have to wait until 2020 to be fully recyclable.

For example, Tetley’s Neal’s Yard pyramid teabags contain 2% food grade synthetic fibers. However, you might be surprised to learn that it’s not the 2% that makes the bag green, but a lot more than that.

One of the biggest benefits of a Tetley bag is the ability to keep it closed. In this sense, it’s a more environmentally friendly choice than many other brands. You might also notice that they have a slightly glossy finish, which is likely the result of a special coating.