Did you know that conventional tea bags contain plastic that can leach into your tea? That’s scary, right? I didn’t even know that was a thing, but I found out about it while browsing the internet.

I don’t want to consume plastic, and I’m sure you don’t want to either. That’s why in this blog post, I’m sharing with you some info you need to know as well as a list of plastic-free tea bags. 

Choosing plastic-free tea bags is not just beneficial for your health, it’s also beneficial for the environment. 

Why are Plastics Used In Tea Bags?

You may be wondering, “Why are they using plastics in tea bags?” I’m wondering the same thing. 

Well, plastics are used in tea bags because they help to make the bags strong. It also makes it possible for manufacturers to seal the bag using heat. 

Some tea bags contain a little bit of plastic (usually polypropylene) that is used to seal the edges shut. The plastic helps to keep the bag sealed so that the leaves of the tea don’t get into the hot water when you make your favourite beverage.  

And some of the fancy-shaped tea bags have plastic because it helps the bag hold its shape. 

Manufacturers also like plastic because it tends to be cheap, durable and moisture-resistant. 

Here are some of the plastics used in teabags: 

  • Polypropylene (PP)
  • Nylon (found in some fancy pyramid-shaped bags)
  • Polyethene terephthalate (PET) (Used in mesh bags)
  • Polylactic acid (PLA)

Why You Should Be Concerned About Plastics in Tea Bags

As I said before, some manufacturers use polypropylene to seal the tea bags. Polypropylene is pretty much a thin, heat-resistant glue that keeps the bag from falling apart when steeped in hot water.

The only problem is that it doesn’t break down. It doesn’t break down in landfills or in your body if you ingest it. 

And the sad thing is that recent studies show that steeping a single plastic tea bag in hot water can release billions of microplastic particles into your cup. 

Here is an excerpt from the abstract of a study. You can click the link below to read more. 

We show that steeping a single plastic teabag at brewing temperature (95 °C) releases approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into a single cup of the beverage.

Read more: Plastic Teabags Release Billions of Microparticles and Nanoparticles into Tea

What Are The Environmental and Health Impacts? 

If plastic tea bags are dumped into the environment, the plastic won’t break down. Unfortunately, it may: 

  • Contaminate the soil
  • Pollute waterways 

Scientists are not absolutely sure what impact plastics have on our bodies. But early research suggests that it may: 

  • Disrupt hormones
  • Trigger inflammation
  • Affect gut health

What Materials Are Used in Plastic-Free Tea Bags

So, what can manufacturers use instead of plastic? Well, they can use natural fibres and plant-based alternatives. 

Unbleached paper
This is usually made from wood or abaca (a banana plant fibre). It takes about 2-5 weeks to break down!

Cotton tea bags
These are fully natural and biodegradable. They take 1-3 months to break down. 

Hemp tea bags
These are strong and breathable. They take about 2-3 months to break down. 

Manufacturers are looking into sugar cane fibre and cassava, or agave-based fibres

How to Identify Plastic-Free Tea Bags

Here are a few tips and ways to help you distinguish between plastic tea bags and plastic-free tea bags. 

Some plastic-free tea bags feel like paper, and they are easy to tear. If the bags have the following characteristics, then it may be plastic.

  • Shiny, silky, or mesh-like texture
  • Smooth, slightly glossy paper bags
  • Pyramid-shaped bags (Often made with plastic, unless they specifically say otherwise)

If you see the following words on the label, then more than likely, it’s plastic-free:

  • Plastic-free
  • Compostable tea bags (especially home compostable)
  • Biodegradable tea bags (still need to do further checks to verify)
  • Made from plant-based materials (still need to do further checks to verify tho)
  • PLA-free or no plastic sealants

You can also check the ingredients list. If it has the following words or terms, then more than likely it has plastic: 

  • Polypropylene
  • Nylon
  • PET
  • PLA (this is a  plant-based plastic that’s biodegradable in industrial composting but not always at home)
  • Anything that says “heat-sealed” but doesn’t specify it’s plastic-free

Combustion Test

You can carefully burn the tea bag. If it smells like plastic or melts, then it may be plastic. If it burns like paper or turns to ash, then it may be plastic-free.

Which Tea Bags Do Not Contain Plastic

Here are some brands that manufacture plastic-free tea bags. 

1) Pukka Herbs

This company uses fully plastic-free paper tea bags with organic cotton strings. They don’t use staples, glue, or plastic sealants. 

They are known for their Three Ginger, Night Time, and Supreme Matcha Green

2) Clipper Teas

They use unbleached, plant-based bags sealed with non-GMO bioplastic.

Here is an excerpt from their website:

Clipper teabags are sealed with a non-GM bio-material made from plant cellulose, known as PLA, also known as bio-plastic. PLA is made from bio material, is fully biodegradable & nothing like the damaging oil-based plastics that people are rightfully concerned about.

This brand is great for black tea lovers and those who like herbal blends.

3) Numi Organic Tea

Their bags are made from abaca plant fibre (a banana family plant). They also use plastic-free string, tags, and wrappers. 

Their popular teas are the turmeric blends and Moroccan Mint.

4) Yogi Tea

This brand uses paper tea bags without plastic or glue. Their strings and tags are also safe for compost bins.

You can try their Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy, Kava Stress Relief

5) Teapigs

This company is clear about its plant-based, plastic-free pyramid tea bags. Their bags are made from cornstarch (bioplastic), and they are compostable at home.

6) Traditional Medicinals

All their tea bags are plastic-free, non-GMO, and compostable.

You can try out their Detox teas and sleepytime teas.

7) Republic of Tea

This company switched many of their blends to unbleached paper bags without plastic. They don’t use tags or strings, so that means less waste to the landfill. 

8) Pique Tea

This brand doesn’t use tea bags at all. Instead, they offer tea crystals.

Other Tips for Avoiding Plastic-Free Tea Bags

If you want to be really sure there is no plastic in your tea, you can opt for loose-leaf teas instead. 

And if you really like having a bag, then you can make your own using organic cotton or linen. You can wash and reuse them. 

You can store your loose-leaf tea in glass jars with air-tight lids. This can be like a mason jar or a used pasta sauce jar. 

Takeaway

I found all of this very interesting and insightful, and I hope you did too. 

The good thing is that you can avoid plastic tea bags by choosing brands that avoid plastics. You can also choose to use loose-leaf teas. 

The next time you go shopping for tea, take a moment to check the packaging and make the plastic-free choice. 

Your body and the environment will thank you! 

Which plastic-free tea brand are you going to try first? Leave it in the comments below. 

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