The media in the UK has reported that a majority of tea bags contain a fine polypropylene weave and are therefore not 100% compostable as is often assumed. This is another example of how plastic particles can end up in the food chain.
What about the numerous types of tea bags sold in Migros?
If this problem also exists here, when will Migros promise to sell only biodegradable teabags?
@Simon3047, thank you for your question.
The tea bags of our organic Klostergarten Bachblütentee are made of nylon. All other tea bags are compostable.
Kind regards,
Angela
Dear Angela,
If this is true, that's great of course - but I still have some doubts, as most manufacturers in the UK don't seem to have solved this problem yet (with the exception of PG Tips). Are your suppliers really so independent that this is completely different for you? I don't know how a layman could test this - perhaps by dissolving an empty bag in water for weeks and seeing if any tissue remains?
Thank you for your feedback and your patience @Simon3047.
We had to clarify this with various suppliers and were able to gather the following information.
All double chamber bags of the Klostergarten brand (except Bach flowers), Migros Bio and You are made of 100% natural materials and are therefore compostable. The tea bag is made of abaca fiber (a type of banana plant) and cellulose, the string is made of cotton and the label is made of paper.
The single-chamber bags without thread and label from the Tea Time brand contain 20% PE in the bag material. This is necessary to seal the pouch with heat (heat sealing). This is not necessary for the double chamber bag, as it is folded and then sewn shut with the help of the thread.
All Yogi Teas and Tetley Teas are made from 99% natural materials and are therefore also compostable.
It is not easy to quickly check the entire range. If we have not mentioned a tea or you would like more detailed information on a specific tea, please let us know and we will clarify this in more detail.
This also applies to your question about checking for yourself whether a bag is compostable. This can vary depending on the material, so we need to know which tea bag you would like to test. We can then clarify the question with our quality assurance team.
For the most part, our bags are biodegradable. We have gladly passed on your input for a possible next Generation M promise to our sustainability experts for consideration.
Best regards, Tamara
I bought the organic Klostergarten Bach Flower Tea "Power" for the first time - and was seriously shocked by the nylon tea bag. Why nylon? That's soooo not environmentally friendly or in keeping with the times. Please, dear Migros, switch to compostable teabags immediately - even if they may seem less "noble". Nylon and "organic" don't go together at all .... I don't want nylon or plastic either ...
Best regards Karin
On this topic: "Compostable" does not necessarily mean that the respective materials are also welcome in the public collection. Compostable materials (e.g. crockery, packaging, filling material) do not belong in the green waste collection according to the instructions of the municipalities (see e.g. the city of Bern). My inquiry regarding egg cartons, which are expressly designated as compostable, was answered to the effect that they belong in the carton collection.
Hello @nirak68
Thank you for your post.
For pyramid tea bags, there are two options for the material: nylon (inorganic) and PLA / Poly Lactigacid, which is corn-based (organic). This raises the frequently asked question of whether compostable, organic materials based on corn or soy should be used for packaging, but which are removed from the human food chain, or whether non-compostable, inorganic materials should be used. After considering these options, our supplier has decided in favor of nylon.
I hope our information is comprehensible for you and wish you a pleasant afternoon.
Best regards
Angela
Hello @Bodenseeknusperli
Which question do you think has not been answered? We had shown the options for pyramid bags. As these are only two options, the supplier has opted for one of them. The reasons for this have been explained.
Kind regards,
Angela
Hello Bodenseeknusperli, to answer your question, I'll expand a little: Migros is aware of the problem that, in exceptional cases, plastic packaging in Switzerland is not disposed of correctly and plastic can end up in the environment. As Switzerland's largest retailer, Migros is aware of its responsibility and is doing its bit: Where it makes sense, plastic is being replaced. Migros does not consider a general ban on plastic packaging to be expedient, as packaging made from alternative materials often has a poorer environmental footprint. In order to determine the best possible packaging, Migros experts draw up life cycle assessments. These show us the environmental impact (CO2 emissions, disposal, etc.) of packaging over its entire life cycle and provide a sound basis for decision-making. This holistic approach sets Migros apart from many of its competitors in Switzerland and abroad.
The environmental impact of the production of bioplastics is generally much higher than that of conventional plastic: the cultivation of the raw materials for bioplastics - usually maize or sugar cane - generates much higher emissions due to the use of pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation (water consumption!). The ecological balance is therefore worse than for conventional plastic. Almost more importantly, the cultivation of these raw materials competes with food production, which we consider irresponsible. Bioplastics also have nowhere near the same packaging properties as conventional plastic. For example, to achieve comparable tear resistance in a carrier bag, bioplastic bags need to be around 30% thicker than conventional plastic bags. Contrary to popular belief, many bioplastic packaging is not or only insufficiently biodegradable. If all these ecological disadvantages are taken into account, the environmental balance for bioplastics is negative. For this reason, Migros only uses bioplastics if they are actually more environmentally friendly than the previous packaging made of conventional plastic.
However, there are currently two alternatives that are made from organic waste, but which are not yet as technologically advanced. However, we are actively following these developments at Migros.
Best regards, Sina
Yes, once again elegantly and eloquently avoiding the real issue. Migros as we know and love it... ;-)
