Everything you need to know about plastics in teabags

Why 'plastic-free' might not always mean what you think it does when it comes to teabags.

Plastic straws, plastic bags, plastic packaging — the so-called 'war on plastic' has found us looking for new ways to cut down on waste. Back in 2015, the UK government introduced a 5p levy on single-use plastic bags, and in 2020, single-use straws and stirrers were taken off the shelves. In October this year, single-use plastic plates, cutlery and a number of other disposable plastic items will go the same way.

While you may have adapted your habits this far by investing in a stylish tote and a reusable straw, there's another place where you could be using unnecessary plastic: your cup of tea.

Believe it or not, the humble teabag often contains a non-biodegradable plastic called polypropylene, which releases billions of microplastic particles every time you brew a cuppa.

Just under half of Good Housekeeping readers believe that plastic pollution is a major environmental concern, but as a nation of tea-lovers, what is the best way to address this issue? We drink around 100 million cups of tea a day*, and with most of this tea being made using teabags rather than loose leaf, our hot drink habit is taking its toll on the environment.

Fortunately, there are plastic-free options available if you know where to look. Here’s how to enjoy your tea plastic-free — plus a list of plastic-free teabags.

You may be wondering why there is plastic in teabags, and what environmental issues this presents.

Many tea brands and supermarkets use a plastic called polypropylene to seal their teabags, so they don’t come apart while you’re making your brew. This plastic cannot be recycled and is not biodegradable, meaning you can’t place one of these teabags on your compost heap or in your food waste bin. This can lead to plastic pollution as the teabag cannot be easily broken down.

Biodegradability is not the only issue with plastic in teabags. If you’ve read up on environmental issues, you’ll have heard of microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic that pollute natural ecosystems. Research by McGill University found that a single plastic teabag can release 11.6 billion microplastic particles at brewing temperature. These take hundreds of years to break down and can cause a host of environmental problems.

“Over half the plastic pollution flowing into our waterways and oceans is estimated to come from the microplastics that fall off some products when they are used, including synthetic clothes, vehicle tyres and brakes — and yes, some tea bags," says Camilla Zerr, a plastics campaigner for Friends of the Earth.

“Choosing plastic-free tea bags is one solution, or better still, buy loose leaf tea and use a strainer. But we need tougher government measures, too. Despite action on a number of single-use plastic products, such as carrier bags, coffee stirrers and straws, the problem is still getting worse. That’s why we need a new law to reduce plastic pollution from all products.”

Some high-end brands make the teabag itself out of plastic rather than paper. ‘Mesh’ is made from strands that are usually made of nylon or polyester and are woven to create a net-like fabric. Mesh teabags are often marketed as ‘silky’, but they are not made of silk. They release a huge number of microplastics and are not biodegradable.

As a more eco-friendly alternative to polypropylene, many tea brands and supermarkets are using a material called polylactic acid to seal their teabags. Polylactic acid, or PLA, is a plant-based plastic, sometimes referred to as a bioplastic. Teabags containing PLA are often described as ‘plastic-free’, but PLA is not a perfect solution.

“PLA is a kind of plastic, contrary to some claims, explains Dr Andrew Mayes, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of East Anglia. “The lactic acid from which polylatic acid is made is generated by fermenting starch-based materials such as corn. This is why products made out of PLA are sometimes (misleadingly) stated to be ‘made out of corn starch’.”

While PLA is biodegradable, it requires industrial composting to break down. According to Dr Mayes, putting teabags that contain PLA in your home compost isn't recommended. “It probably takes several years to degrade, and we don’t really understand how harmful it might be to organisms in the meantime. It will degrade after a few years, so it’s not as bad as polypropylene, but it’s better to avoid it where possible.”

It’s good to be sceptical about claims that products or their packaging are ‘biodegradable’ — all this means is that the material something is made from will break down eventually, but it doesn’t specify how long something will take to break down and under what conditions.

Unfortunately, the large majority of teabags are not home compostable. Teabags made with PLA instead of polypropylene can be placed into your food waste bin to be industrially composted by your local council.

If your teabag contains polypropylene, you can still reduce waste by removing the tea inside the teabag when you've finished with it, and adding this to your home compost. The bag itself can go into your general waste bin.

To find out how to use plastics more sustainably, visit Clear on Plastics.

Many brands that claim their teabags are 'plastic free' do in fact use plant-based plastic.

Of the UK’s leading tea brands, we found that Pukka’s teabags are completely plastic-free, containing no polypropylene or PLA. The bags themselves are made from a blend of natural abaca (a type of banana), wood pulps and plant cellulose fibres. They are sealed with a stitch of 100% organic, non-GMO cotton. The teabags should be home compostable, meaning you can pop the entire teabag either into your compost bin or your food waste bin, and the packaging is 100% recyclable, too!

With so many brands using plastic in their teabags, and the long-term environmental impact of PLA being unclear, another way to enjoy a plastic-free cuppa is to opt for loose leaf tea. Teabags are the most popular way to brew now, but they weren’t common until 1950s when Tetley’s introduced them to the UK. Before this, most Brits were using a strainer or teapot to brew loose tea leaves.

By buying loose leaf, you bypass the problem of plastic sealant in teabags altogether and produce less package waste in general. The tea itself tends to be less processed and retains more of the original flavour.

* UK Tea Infusions Association

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