Celestial Seasonings Tea Bags - Are Celestial Seasonings Tea Bags Compostable?
The company makes a conscious effort to minimize its environmental impact. In addition, it takes a stand against microplastics in the water supply and food chain by using non-plastic Compostable Packaging.
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What is the material of the tea bag?
Celestial Seasonings tea bags are made with abaca, a plant-based fibre. It is a 100% biodegradable material and is BPA and BPS free.
These compostable bags do not require staples, tags or strings, which helps reduce overall waste and keeps 3.5 million pounds of teabags out of landfill every year.
Many teabag brands use food-grade plastics like polypropylene to seal shut and keep their tea bags’ shape in hot water. While this type of plastic is often considered to be “food safe,” it can leak microplastics and other chemicals into our drinks that can affect hormone regulation, according to researchers at McGill University in Canada.
Thankfully, many brands are taking a stand and making the switch to a more sustainable material for their tea bags. Currently, most of the UK’s biggest supermarkets are working to shift away from polypropylene and replace it with PLA, a new plant-based plastic that is fully biodegradable.
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What is the material of the envelope?
Celestial Seasonings tea bags are made of a natural fiber called cellulose. This is derived from plants and is completely biodegradable.
They are also free of any synthetic materials such as waxes or plastics, which makes them perfect for those who are trying to avoid chemicals and additives in their diet.
The company claims that their pillow-style, natural fiber tea bags don’t need a string, tag, staple or individual wrapper, which saves more than 3.5 million pounds of waste from entering landfills every year.
In addition to being 100% compostable, they use a Totally Chlorine Free (TCF), whitening process that does not rely on Dioxin, which is toxic to our water supply. However, even with these positive steps toward zero-waste, they still have a ways to go before they can claim zero-waste status.
What is the material of the seal?
While older sources might report that tea bags have plastic in them, the fact is that Celestial Seasonings uses "safe, food-grade polypropylene fibers" to heat seal their round and square tag-less varieties.
The polypropylene fibers are used to keep the tea bag in place and to prevent it from escaping during transport or storage, which is a great idea. It is also the first time a tea company has made the effort to heat seal their products.
The actual tea biodegradable bags is made from abaca, an ancient plant fiber sourced from the Musa textilis species found in South East Asia. It is a sturdy, biodegradable material that is best known for its use in ships’ ropes. Its main drawback is the hefty price tag associated with it. Fortunately, abaca is now being produced in small batches from farmers in the US and Australia that are committed to sustainability and socially responsible business practices. It is now also being grown in the Caribbean and Asia as part of an initiative to promote sustainable cropping in these regions.
What is the material of the staples?
Celestial seasonings makes a commitment to eco-friendly packaging and is currently the only major brand offering zero-waste tea pla bags. However, they still have a long way to go before their product is fully compostable.
Luckily, many brands are making efforts to reduce plastic use in their manufacturing processes. In particular, some have started using plant-based bioplastics like PLA.
Polylactic acid, or PLA, is a type of bioplastic made from cornstarch and is able to break down in certain conditions. You can compost this type of bag in your home compost bin or at curbside if you have a composting service.
Most of the paper used to make a tea bag is derived from recycled materials, and the seal and staples are often made from metal. Nevertheless, plastic resin does make up about 1% of the total tea bag.
