It is well known that certain tea bags containing plastic release billions of micro- and nanoplastics when a single cup is brewed (https://europepmc.org/article/MED/31552738). What is the composition of the tea bags sold in Migros and how can I be sure that a tea bag is plastic-free? As far as I know, Coop, for example, indicates on its tea cartons whether the packaging, the tea or the tea bag is compostable (https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/kassensturz-espresso/services/espresso-aha/espresso-aha-teebeutel-wieso-mit-und-ohne-verpackung#:~:text=Teebeutel%20kompostierbar%20sind.-,COOP,-Mehr%20zum%20Thema)
Incidentally, I am already familiar with the Migipedia discussion "Tea bags not 100% compostable?" seven years ago (https://migipedia.migros.ch/de/preview/forum/allgemein/teebeutel-nicht-100percent-kompostierbar?reply=0e83fe80-4ea2-11e8-a7a8-33da342c6149).
I have the following questions:
1. are the tea bags from Migros Bio (esp. chamomile, lime blossom and peppermint) and Klostergarten (esp. sage tea and cold tea) still 100% plastic-free?
2. 99% of the Yogi tea bags are said to be made from natural materials. Is that still true? And what is the percentage not stated?
3. are the tea bags from Alnatura (especially Innere Kraft, Schlaf Schön and Fenchel Anis Kümmel) 100% plastic-free?
Thank you
All replies (2)
15 hours ago
Hello udimontana, thank you for your inquiry. Enclosed you will find the statement from our specialist department.
Klostergarten teas:
The double-chamber tea bags for the Klostergarten tea articles consist solely of natural wood and other plant fibers, in addition to the thread and label, to which minimal amounts of a so-called wet strength agent are added during production to make the filter paper tear-resistant. It bonds inseparably with the paper fiber and is insoluble in water. Unfortunately, it is not yet technically possible to produce tea bags, coffee filters or handkerchiefs without wet strength agents without them disintegrating on contact with moisture. We are constantly working on improving our products and materials.
The thread material is cotton and the label is made of paper.
The tea bags are harmless to health according to all national and international European standards.
Alnatura teas:
The tea bags for Alnatura teas are made from fiber banana fibers to which a small amount of cellulose is added. The fiber banana is a perennial plant that is used exclusively for the production of fibers.
The tea bags do not contain any plastic. The addition of heat-sealable fibers is not necessary as the tea bags are produced purely mechanically: The paper is folded by machine for this purpose, the inner seam is knurled and the top end is closed by tying a knot in the thread. The thread is made from organic cotton.
Yogi Teas:
The Yogi teabags are plastic-free. They are made from a mixture of Manila hemp (abaca, a member of the banana family) and wood and a resin-based wet strength agent. If required, another material (bamboo fibers) is used in addition to the aforementioned filter paper. Fortunately, both materials have the same balance in terms of the sustainability of the raw materials.
Kind regards, Alex
10 hours ago
Edited
15 hours ago
Hello udimontana, thank you for your inquiry. Enclosed you will find the statement from our specialist department.
Klostergarten teas:
The double-chamber tea bags for the Klostergarten tea articles consist solely of natural wood and other plant fibers, in addition to the thread and label, to which minimal amounts of a so-called wet strength agent are added during production to make the filter paper tear-resistant. It bonds inseparably with the paper fiber and is insoluble in water. Unfortunately, it is not yet technically possible to produce tea bags, coffee filters or handkerchiefs without wet strength agents without them disintegrating on contact with moisture. We are constantly working on improving our products and materials.
The thread material is cotton and the label is made of paper.
The tea bags are harmless to health according to all national and international European standards.
Alnatura teas:
The tea bags for Alnatura teas are made from fiber banana fibers to which a small amount of cellulose is added. The fiber banana is a perennial plant that is used exclusively for the production of fibers.
The tea bags do not contain any plastic. The addition of heat-sealable fibers is not necessary as the tea bags are produced purely mechanically: The paper is folded by machine for this purpose, the inner seam is knurled and the top end is closed by tying a knot in the thread. The thread is made from organic cotton.
Yogi Teas:
The Yogi teabags are plastic-free. They are made from a mixture of Manila hemp (abaca, a member of the banana family) and wood and a resin-based wet strength agent. If required, another material (bamboo fibers) is used in addition to the aforementioned filter paper. Fortunately, both materials have the same balance in terms of the sustainability of the raw materials.
Kind regards, Alex
Hello Alex.
Thank you for your reply and for the tip regarding wet strength agents.
I was not aware of the latter until now.
While researching, I came across the following articles:
- https://www.fairlis.de/post/plastik-im-teebeutel-tee-hersteller-beantworten-unsere-fragen/
- https://www.fairlis.de/post/nassfestigkeitsmittel-in-teebeuteln-hersteller-beantworten-unsere-fragen/
The statement regarding Klostergarten teas seems to be a 1:1 copy of Messmer's statement on their double-chamber teabags (https://www.messmer.de/kontakt-service/faq#:~:text=%C3%BCber%20das%20Altpapier.-,Aus%20welchem%20Material%20bestehen%20die%20Teebeutel%3F,-Doppelkammer%2DTeebeutel%0AUnsere).
As long as it is not known that Klostergarten uses exactly the same tea bags as Messmer, it is not correct to simply copy a statement from Messmer.
- The question is: (Where) has the water insolubility been proven?
The fact that Yogi Teas contain a resin-based wet strength agent cannot be inferred from the above-mentioned articles, which is why I am interested in the source of this information.
Also, is there a difference in water solubility and microplastics if the wet strength agent is resin-based or not? Or are most wet strength agents used in tea bags made of resin?
At Alnatura there is no indication that wet strength agents are used. So why do the Alnatura tea bags manage without these wet strength agents when at the same time it is stated that it is unfortunately not yet technically possible to produce tea bags, coffee filters or even handkerchiefs without wet strength agents without them disintegrating on contact with moisture?
Finally, I would also like a statement on Migros organic teas.
TL;DR: with which of the teas in question do I definitely not consume microplastics and with which can this not be ruled out?
Best regards, Utku