Gwenoakes wrote:
Cannot remember where I heard it, but some T bags have plastic in them including the ones I use. Anyone else knew this?
Yes Gwen they use polypropylene, a sealing plastic, to keep the tea bags from falling apart. This plastic is not recyclable or biodegradable.
So brands in the UK that don't use plastic.....
Abel & Cole
Clipper
Pukka Herbs
Teapigs
Twinings pyramid range
Waitrose Duchy range
and the one's who did have plastic but are either in the process of changing (might already have done completely) or who might soon change if the court of opinion has any effect on them.
Co-op (announced plans to get rid of the plastic strip that seals its own-brand 99 tea bags).
PG Tips (SAYS ON THEIR WEBSITE....."We’re committed to moving all our pyramid® bags to a new fully biodegradable, plant-based material).
Tetley
Twinings 'heat-sealed' and 'string and tag' ranges (heir loose leaf pyramid tea bag range does not contain plastic and is fully biodegradable. However, their 'heat-sealed' and 'string and tag' ranges do include plastic).
Yorkshire Tea (aim is that all their UK tea bags will have switched by the end of 2019...so I wonder about the rest of the world??).
Lidl own brand (NB: their pyramid teabags are made from 100% bio-plastic and are fully biodegradable).
Easiest way to be sure your tea is plastic free and so completely biodegradable and good to go in your compost ....loose leaf and a tea ball (I've got stainless steel and I've had it for I don't know how long but I reckon at least 10 years that I can think of - could be a lot longer ...you can use a small one for single cups just like a tea bag or larger ones you can put into a teapot or reusable teabags and not have to use a tea strainer if that's not your thing.