The micro-plastic problem has generally stemmed from the use of polypropylene plastic in tea bags as a ‘sealant’ to prevent tea bags from disintegrating on contact with hot water. Given that 96 per cent of tea drinkers in the UK use tea bags as opposed to leaves to make tea, and that we drink 165 million cups of tea daily, losing the plastic in the teapots is a pretty urgent challenge.
Tea company Clipper is the one who has risen to the challenge. Clipper has just announced the launch of the world’s first plastic free, non-GM and unbleached tea bag, and it’s made of bananas.
The bag has been over a year in the making and is formed from a blend of natural fibres, based on banana plant cellulose and a biopolymer made from non-GM plant material called PLA that holds the bag together in the place of synthetic polypropylene. Getthegloss.com also reported that all tea bags are organic and biodegradable.
