Silky pyramids, plastic sealed bags, and what brands are actually fully compostable
Whether you like to pretend you are British all the time, or just have a cold, chances are you are making that cup of tea with a conveniently packaged tea bag. While tea bags are great (and basically everywhere) there’s something you should know about that innocent tea bag. Many of them use plastic to keep them sealed shut. Nope, not just on the wrapper the tea bag actually comes in, but the bag itself. The idea of a plastic soaking in boiling hot water just does not sound cozy to us. But thankfully, there are some easy changes you can make if you feel the same way we do.
Now, this isn’t true of all brands of tea bags. Many popular brands in the UK (like PG Tips and Yorkshire) are working on eliminating the plastic and should have plastic completely out of their tea bags soon. This can’t come soon enough, since a recent study showed that one plastic tea bag can shed one billion microplastic particles into your drink (1). But while some brands are making a change, not all companies are as transparent.
One type of tea bag to be cautious about are the ones that look like silky pyramids. While they may seem fancy (and often come with a higher price tag), that material is often nylon, which is also a form of plastic. So, if you are worried about the plastic in your tea bags, it’s worth doing some investigating or considering making a change.
Try looking for brands that say their bags are 100% plastic free. To help you out, we researched and reached out to a bunch of American brands to see what they say about their teas. You can find the list below.
If they do, consider asking them if they are considering changing and explaining to them why the change matters to you. We outline a few reasons why you might care below.
There are a couple of ways to deal with loose leaf tea. You can get a tea ball infuser, get fillable filter bags and make your own tea bags, use a french press like for coffee, or brew a pot and use a strainer. You can also check out some of our on the go tea mugs. Of course, the other option is to go all out and let the tea brew at the bottom of your cup and then read your tea leaves when you are finished.
Why is all this worry and change worth it? While it might only be a small amount of plastic sealing each tea bag, you are dropping these tea bags in hot water. And, from all of our research, we know that plastic is more likely to melt and leach chemicals when it is heated (2). From reading a couple of tea company websites, the type of plastic most often used to seal the bags is polypropylene. This is marked with a recycle number 5. While this is considered a safer plastic than some of the others, it is still never recommended that plastic be heated (2). On top of the concern that you are drinking some plastic every time you have a cup of tea, which can mess with how your body regulates hormones, disposing of the tea bags also means we are adding to the plastic problem. While often tea bags seem like they can be composted, if they actually contain plastic, they shouldn’t be composted. By accidentally incorrectly putting tea bags that do contain plastic in the compost you are adding small amounts of plastic to the compost, which will introduce these chemicals back into the food chain as plants absorb them from the soil as they grow. Instead, these bags should be put in the trash. Or, if you want to go above and beyond, you can open the tea bag, but the tea leaves in the compost, and just place the, now empty, bag in the trash.
So, next time you want a nice, relaxing cup of tea, think about it and opt for one that is free of plastic and better for you and the world.
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Many tea lovers aren’t aware of the health-related problems with tea bags. Most tea bags are not biodegradable, which makes them a serious waste product and harmful for the environment. Usually, tea bags are made of bleached paper, nylon, and plastic. When submerged in boiling water, tea bags release billions of harmful microplastic per serving.
Regular tea bags are made of nylon, plastic, or bleached paper. Glue and other harmful chemicals are used for sealing tea bags. In a single serving tea bag, around 11 billion microplastics are released from the plastic and nylon when submerged in boiling water to make tea!
We know that tea bags simply do not hold tea leaves; they are part of the process of making tea. However, the real problem with tea bags is that they add harmful substances such as plastics to your drink which can easily be avoided by using loose tea leaves directly. An even better alternative for healthy tea is Tea Drops!
Read on to see what makes tea bags such an undesirable product for humans and the environment. Similar to how we are always concerned about the food we consume, we should also be aware of the packaging materials that food comes in.
Tea bags are designed using basic materials like paper, nylon, or plastics. The openings are closed off using glue and other sticky compounds. The paper used may often be bleached. But how do these regular materials pose a threat? How are tea bags bad for you?
Many tea drinkers don't know this, and we are here to reveal the reason behind why tea bags are bad for health. On their own, these materials shouldn't cause much harm to the human body. However, when dipped in boiling water, microplastics are formed. One tea bag is able to release as many as 11 billion of these. Other compounds such as bleach, chemicals, and glue are also absorbed into the water along with the tea extract. This makes a horrible toxic concoction that is detrimental to the health of the person ingesting the tea.
A total of 3.1 billion nano plastic particles in a cup of tea does not sound very appetizing, right? If you are wondering about how these specific particles end up in your tea, then we would like you to know that polypropylene is the culprit. Polypropylene is the compound that is used to close the open end of tea bags once tea leaves are filled inside.
There is not one but a range of toxic ingredients that can be found in tea bags. These mainly include nylon, plastics, and paper. Let us take a closer look at what harmful effects they bring with them!
Tea bags made out of paper may sound safer than those made of plastics or nylon, but they really aren't. Paper is derived from wood and fibers extracted from vegetables. So what makes paper tea bags toxic?
Paper tea bags do not add plastics to your drink but bleach instead. This is because many producers want the paper to be as white as possible. To ensure this, the paper passes through a bleaching process. Every time you dip these tea bags in water, some part of the bleach goes into your tummy with your drink.
The chlorine dioxide compound that is part of the bleaching method is usually left behind in the paper pulp in a concentration of 4.79 parts per trillion. Apart from chlorine, dioxins are chemicals that come along with paper as well.
To increase the strength of paper tea bags, many producers even add epichlorohydrin. This is a carcinogenic substance that is toxic and harmful in the long run.
The glue used to seal tea bags is another compound you would not want to be ingesting.
The plastic used in plastic tea bags is commonly polyethylene. Plastic tea bags are larger and more spacious than paper tea bags. And while they can carry more tea leaves, they are still not great for your health.
On their own, plastic bags lying around in your pantry will not cause much harm. But plastic tea bags are a different story when it's time to use them. They release tons of plastic particles in your drink when the tea bag is submerged in boiling water. Around 11.6 billion particles of microplastics and 3.1 billion particles of Nano plastics are released in one serving. All of these enter the digestive system each time a cup of tea made with a plastic tea bag is drunk.
The worst part is that tea bags made of plastic are also non-biodegradable and are very bad for the environment.
While nylon, as a fabric, is said to have high heat resistance, they are still susceptible to releasing harmful components in boiling water during the tea-making process. There's been no definitive studies showcasing that all nylon tea bags are 100% safe for human consumption in the long run.
Tea bags are not eco-friendly either. While we should not be consuming the tea leaves enclosed inside these bags, we should also not be dumping them as waste into the environment. A majority of tea bags are not biodegradable and will not turn into compost. They might end up in water bodies and can clog drains and pipes.
If the tea bag is made using epichlorohydrin, it will definitely not decay or rot properly alongside other waste. Even animals might choke on them in some instances and possibly die.
Let us now take a look at how tea bags are detrimental to your health:
ECGG is a short form for Epigallocatechin gallate. This is a compound that has oxidizing effects and can promote weight loss. Researchers have deduced that green tea bags have very low levels of said content, only being between 1.09 and 2.29 milligrams per bag. Such low levels can prevent tea drinkers from experiencing the benefits associated with green tea.
The tea packed inside tea bags needs to be very fine so that the extract can be easily obtained. The tea is grounded so that it will be able to fit inside the small area of a plastic or paper bag. All of the excessive grinding and chopping results in the production of dust. This makes the tea impure and further reduces its benefits. The tea powder has a higher chance of reacting with humidity and oxygen, leading to bad quality tea.
Stapler pins or glue used to seal tea bags off are very dangerous to human health. You may end up ingesting rust and other harmful compounds. Epichlorohydrin and bleach used in the manufacture of tea bags may cause cancer and digestive problems.
We have already discussed this point quite a few times. Plastic tea bags made of nylon or other synthetic materials release tons of micro-plastic particles and Nano plastic particles into your drink. This may cause chemical leaching and toxicity.
It is obvious that you should steer clear of using tea bags to brew a warm cup of black tea or a green one. We recommend using pure tea leaves that are organic and healthy. As mentioned earlier, an even better option would be to opt for tea available at the Tea Drops website. There's no toxic tea bag involved. The Drops can simply be melted in hot water to create an instant healthy drink!
Tea drops are organic and can be purchased in a variety of different flavors. You will also not be required to strain or cook like you do when using tea leaves. So, truly a win-win. Tea Drops can help brew delicious, healthy tea and are definite picnic must-haves!
Bringing everything to a close, we truly hope you understand how damaging it is to use plastic, nylon, and paper tea bags. These are not only harmful to your health but are also pretty bad for the environment. You will be ingesting tons of toxins, carcinogens, and plastic particles in each cup if you keep on using them. Furthermore, you will also miss out on delicious, pure, and healthy tea that could actually bring some benefits to your body.
The non-biodegradable nature should be a big concern for nature lovers. Tea bags do not turn into waste and pollute water bodies. Just think of all the tea bags used around the globe daily. Shivers!
With all of this said, it is time for you to start using organic, flavorful Tea Drops for better health and a better environment. There's a wide range of varieties available, including tea for headaches and even chamomile tea for babies.
**Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informative purposes only and shouldn’t be taken as medical advice. Those who have any health-related queries should be sure to reach out to a medical professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.