Do Tea Bags Contain Plastic In Australia?

A range of tea bags some containing plastics and some not, along with some loose leaf tea sits on a wood background next to a coffee cup.

It’s a common question that is searched for on the internet. As soon as we hear the rumour from someone, we want to know the truth. Do tea bags in Australia contain plastic?

TLDR: Yes, many do!

"Steeping a plastic tea bag at a brewing temperature of 95°C releases around 11.6 billion microplastics into your tea!"

A 2019 study by McGill University found that steeping a plastic tea bag at a brewing temperature of 95°C releases around 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nano plastics into your tea!

Microplastic are between 100 nanometres and 5 millimetres in size and 11.6 billion of these bad boys are potentially ending up in your morning cup of tea.

Combine this with the fact that all those micro and nano sized particles are heading down your drain (or your toilet) and back out into the environment and you can see why mindful consumers may be on the look out for a plastic free alternative.

Why on earth would a tea bag contain plastic?

Tea bags usually only contain plastic to either help bind the fibres of the bag together, or to help heat seal the bag, or to keep the bag sealed while it is in the hot water in your mug. Sounds great in theory, other than the drinking plastic part hey…

A much better option is to find a tea bag that’s made from unbleached paper, no polymers and no plasticisers. Look for tea bags that are stitched or stapled together rather than glued or heat sealed. Or better yet, drink my loose leaf, organic herbal tea that’s handcrafted right here in Australia.

Below are a few known plastic tea bags, or tea bags that contain plastics. This information may change as tea companies find new ways of making and sealing their tea bags, but to my knowledge are correct at the time of writing.

Plastic Containing Tea Bags

Tea Bags:What they’re made from:
Lipton Green Decaf, Chai and Herbal (traditional tea bags)Manila hemp (abaca plants), cellulose, thermoplastic fibres – Not compostable, not recyclable
Bushells Tea BagsManila hemp (abaca plants), cellulose, thermoplastic fibres – Not compostable, not recyclable
Nerada tea filter paperManila hemp (abaca plants), contains less than 2% food grade synthetic fibres) for heat sealing bags
Madura tea bag filter paper80% natural fibres, 20% synthetics
TetleyContain small amount of plastic to ensure bags remain closed when steeping in hot liquid
TwiningsAcrylic polymer binder to bind materials to create the paper for their tea bags

On a lighter note, the good news is that there are also a few different options for plastic-free tea bags for all my fellow tea drinkers to take a look at.

Plastic Free Tea Bag Brands / Bags

Plastic Free Tea Bags& Loose Leaf Teas:Details:
Dilmah OrganicOrganic range only, not conventional, plastic free and can be disposed of in the compost bin
Clipper TeasPlant based, biodegradable, unbleached, non-GMO
Harney & SonsFastened with a knot and string, no glue or staple, oxygen bleached and fully compostable
Higher Living TeasCompletely compostable, unbleached paper with organic cotton string stitched into the fabric, completely compostable bags
My Herbal Apothecary
(that’s me!)
A beautiful range of loose leaf, organic, herbal teas in compostable bags. I blend all my teas by hand in small batches right here on the Darling Downs in Queensland. Find my range here.
Nature’s Cuppa OrganicUnbleached paper, no polymers, no plasticisers, closed with a metal staple, 100% eco-organic and environmentally sustainable
PukkaSimple stitch of organic cotton and organic strings with unique folding process
T2 (New Teabags)Now made from cornstarch and are biodegradable thanks to customer demand
TielkaZero plastic, fabric made from corn fibre

This list is by no means comprehensive and please remember that tea manufacturers are continually updating and improving their manufacturing processes and this information is subject to change.

Find An Alternative To Commercial Tea Bags

If you’ve decided you’re just not happy buying commercial tea bags any longer, then why not try buying reusable tea bags for loose leaf tea or even try making you’re own from some organic muslin cloth if you’re a bit handy? Alternatively, good old fashioned loose leaf tea can be brewed and the tea leaves filtered in so many ways these days, why not forgo the tea bags altogether?

You can even check out my range of loose leaf herbal teas while you’re here. Now that’s not only a great plastic free option for the environment, but beneficial for your health too!

A kraft paper bag of Sorrow Organic Herbal Tea rests on a hessian base with leafy passionfruit leaves in the background. Loose leaf herbal tea, showcasing a blend of hawthorn, oat straw, rose petals, and butterfly pea flower, spills gently over the edge of a wooden spoon. A stainless steel tea infuser is nearby, ready for steeping, evoking a sense of heart-centered comfort and reflection.

References:

  1. Plastic Teabags Release Billions of Microparticles and Nanoparticles into Tea – Laura M. Hernandez, Elvis Genbo Xu, Hans C. E. Larsson, Rui Tahara, Vimal B. Maisuria, and Nathalie Tufenkji Environmental Science & Technology 2019 53 (21), 12300-12310 – DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02540

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