Plastic in Teabags

 
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Sustainable Packaging Update: Spicers Brands

Throughout 2020 we have been working hard to find sustainable packaging solutions for our branded products.

In February we moved from a teabag paper with an oil-based plastic to a plant-based material called PLA. PLA is made from wood pulp and vegetable starch, is non-GMO and sustainably sourced. We used this paper in Dorset Tea, Tea India and Lancashire Tea products.

Using new materials is not always easy, and despite numerous and rigorous testing a few of the new teabags were splitting. So, we went back to the drawing board and resumed testing. We have made a lot progress in this area and have a robust plan to move to more sustainable packaging across our branded portfolio.

Dorset Tea:

Sunshine Blend

·         From 2nd October we will move our Dorset Tea 80s pack to a teabag paper called Puri Seal Green which uses a plant-based material called PLA

·         This teabag material is biodegradable and suitable for council food waste bins

·         This will be clearly marked on the front of pack

·         Dorset Tea 40s pack is already available in PLA

·         Dorset Tea decaf is already available in PLA

·         This teabag material is biodegradable and suitable for council food waste bins

·         We have also removed the gold foil blocking from Dorset Tea cartons to make it 100% recyclable

·         We do not use foil inside the carton or plastic overwrap

·         The tea in our 1100 catering pack will be available in PLA from late September and the plastic bag used to hold teabags is fully recyclable

·         Our 250 string, tag and envelope product uses a method of folding the paper without the need of heat sealing, this means that there is no polypropylene required in these tea bags.

·         These teabags do not contain plastic

·         These teabags are suitable for council food waste bins

Fruit & Herbal Infusion

·     Our fruit and herbal infusion range use a method of folding the paper without the need of heat sealing, this means that there is no polypropylene required in these tea bags.

·         These teabags do not contain plastic

·         These teabags are suitable for council food waste bins

Premium Pyramid Range

·         The teabag material used in our new Dorset Tea premium pyramid range is made from woven mesh filter derived from corn starch of natural origin.

·         Dorset Tea premium pyramid range teabags can be biodegraded completely in soil or compost under the correct conditions.

·         These teabags are suitable for council food waste bins

·         The pouch used to hold the tea bags is made from Naturflex, which is certified as compostable in both industrial and home composting environments.

Tea India

Masala Chai

·         We have moved to a teabag paper called Puri Seal Green which uses a plant-based material called PLA

·         This teabag material is biodegradable and suitable for council food waste bins

·         This will be clearly marked on the front of pack and is in circulation in stocking supermarkets: Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Co op

·         This teabag material is biodegradable and suitable for council food waste bins

·         The pouch used to hold the teabags is made from Naturflex, which is certified as compostable in both industrial and home composting environments.

·         We have removed gold foil blocking from the front of pack to make the carton 100% biodegradable.

·         We will move all Tea India Chais and Ayurvedics teas to PLA and naturflex from September.

Lancashire Tea 80s & 1100s

·         From September we will move to a teabag paper called Puri Seal Green which uses a plant-based material called PLA

·         This teabag material is biodegradable and suitable for council food waste bins

 

 

 
Lauren Forecast