Why? Because it’s not just tea leaves in Tetley (and our other beloved brands)
CUPPA FACT
Brits drink over 1 million cups of tea a day. Twinings alone produce 8.6 billion tea bags a year.
Many of us know about the teabag plastic scandal. What a shock to find out we were innocently buying billions of invisible plastic meshes a year! So, which are the good ones?
Well, before we dunk that biscuit, there’s a few things we need to consider:
What’s the teabag made of?
Is it compostable and if so how?
How much packaging is used (inside and out) and is it recyclable?
Do we even really need teabags at all? (bags not the tea…relax!)
Let’s get the low down…
First things first, can we switch to loose leaf tea?
When we consider how much packaging goes towards every cup of tea, it just doesn’t make sense: plastic film, foil wrappers, individual sachets, teabags, strings, tags. Imagine how we could help the planet if we switched to good old fashioned tea leaves.
We hear the protests! I don’t have the time, it’s not like I live in Japan, you know. Enter the Stump teapot - perfect for that one cuppa (or two!) and top-up-able through the day.
What if there’s lots of us? Get a bigger teapot. And…in a hurried world, pouring your tea is beautiful.
But, for those teabag diehards, let’s get down and dirty with how the nation’s favourites perform.
We reviewed based on the teabag alone (more to come in another action on the tea itself). Technically, all these teabags contain plastic - the difference is that the more sustainable brands use plant based plastics (PLAs).
And, finally, for the whole caboodle, don’t forget the milk - see our previous action for the planet-friendly best.
Will it cost me more?
No. If you switch to tea leaves, you’ll have the initial investment of a teapot, then you’ll save. Almost all the major brands sell tea leaves. For a treat The Brew Tea Company gets it right.
We…
Aimee: I’m not a big tea drinker but I do love the look of that teapot - maybe my occasional tea can become a mindful treat…very zen!
Sonia: I’m partial to a Pukka. But all those individual sachets! Stumpy here I come.
Have something to ask or share with everyone? Please post it in the box below. And…is there something you’re proud of, big or small (Christmas tree watered, upcycled Christmas crackers made)? Email us, so we can feature you on our Weekly Shout Out. Everyone loves it!
“Time for a nice cuppa...”