Tea luggage have come beneath scrutiny because of issues associated to plastic utilization, recyclability, compostability and biodegradability. Bagged tea stays a related selection for its comfort, however manufacturers want to seek out workable sustainability options to fulfill client expectations.
In Germany, 39% of shoppers cite sustainable packaging because the issue that will set off them to change tea manufacturers. Moreover, 43% of US shoppers suppose espresso/tea manufacturers ought to prioritise sustainable packaging.
Tea bag producers wish to varied choices to finish using plastic in tea luggage. Petroleum-based plastics equivalent to polypropylene are historically used as sealants in tea luggage.
Customers now anticipate their tea luggage to be plastic-free to keep away from microplastics of their tea, with 25% of Thai shoppers prepared to pay extra for tea packaged in plastic-free luggage.
One response to the demand for plastic-free tea luggage is the rising use of bio-based biodegradable polymers, equivalent to polylactic acid (PLA), that are comprised of renewable assets equivalent to corn. Many PLA tea luggage are marketed as plant-based, biodegradable or compostable because of using bio-based elements versus petroleum-based plastics.
Nevertheless, PLA tea luggage don’t naturally degrade within the atmosphere and require an industrial composting course of for biodegradation, as outlined within the United Nations Environmental Program’s ‘Single-use plastics: A roadmap for sustainability’.
Exploring bagless tea dips as a plastic-free various
Given the restricted biodegradability of PLA-based tea luggage, tea manufacturers can discover another answer: bagless tea dips.
Woolah in India has launched a plastic-free, bagless tea dip that also affords comfort. As a substitute of tea luggage, Woolah’s unbroken complete tea leaves are compressed with a string hooked up to them. These compressed tea leaves unfurl when steeped in boiling water.
Woolah’s teas declare to be brewable as much as 3 times or till the flavour diminishes and the tea leaves can naturally biodegrade; Mintel GNPD
Clarifying the reality about compostable tea luggage
Tea bag producers usually use the phrases ‘compostable’ and ‘biodegradable’ interchangeably when selling their eco-friendly tea luggage.
In India, a big 70% of consumers are conscious that almost all packaging labelled as ‘compostable’ can solely be composted at an industrial facility quite than at dwelling (e.g. one’s backyard or yard). Practically the identical proportion (69%) understands that ‘degradable’ and ‘biodegradable’ packaging are distinct ideas.
This consciousness highlights the necessity for manufacturers to be clear relating to the precise circumstances needed for his or her packaging to be really compostable. As an example, Dilmah New Zealand has made it clear on its web site and packaging that its PLA tea luggage should bear industrial composting.
Selling dwelling composting
Tea manufacturers can concentrate on making certain that their tea luggage are totally home-compostable, catering to shoppers who already apply dwelling composting.
Tea luggage comprised of supplies that may be composted at dwelling are perfect for shoppers in areas the place industrial composting of family waste is unavailable, and compostable packaging isn’t collected curbside.
Residence-compostable tea luggage are nonetheless comparatively new, with lower than 1% of tea luggage launched globally claiming to be appropriate for dwelling composting within the yr to July 2023, in keeping with Mintel GNPD.
Tea luggage with dwelling composting accreditation present assurance to shoppers looking for to compost their used tea luggage at dwelling. Manufacturers like Duchy by Waitrose within the UK and Healtheries in New Zealand have acquired accreditation for his or her home-compostable tea luggage with info obtainable on their web sites.
Strengthening the Attraction of Sustainable Tea Bag Packaging
The messaging on tea bag packaging performs a significant position in demonstrating their sustainability credentials. With 70% of Indian shoppers having bought merchandise with sustainable packaging up to now six months by means of October 2022, it’s important for sustainable tea luggage to successfully talk their eco-friendly attributes on the packaging. This want turns into extra pronounced as extra tea luggage characteristic environmentally pleasant claims on their packaging.
This article first appeared within the October 2023 print subject of WhatPackaging Journal.
