Plastic in tea bags

[Flick of the Elbow]

An unfortunate learning from the unexpectedly interesting The Factory programme was that tea bag paper contains 25% plastic. This allows heat sealing of the bag. And there was me thinking that I could put tea bags in the compost. As if there isn't enough undetectable plastic in the world already. What a shame they can't think of way of making the bags without it.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I was surprised by that too... mine have always gone in the food waste. I had no idea that a tea bag wasn't 100% biodegradable.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

It's been out there for a while....

There are plastic-free versions out there- but loose leaf tea from a pot is better.

News to me. My bags do compost away but I guess the plastic particles are small and unseen. Might take up the loose leaf from now on - just have to retrain the shopper person.

 

[Drago]

This trend for plastic in anything has to stop. Apart from the pollution, the raw material hydrocarbons are in finite supply and one day mankind might want them for something more useful than tea bags and body scrub.

 

[Apollonius]

I know this sounds old-fashioned, but I really cannot see the point of tea-bags anyway. You get better tea at lower price if you use loose-leaf tea. And no plastics!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

An unfortunate learning from the unexpectedly interesting The Factory programme was that tea bag paper contains 25% plastic. This allows heat sealing of the bag. And there was me thinking that I could put tea bags in the compost. As if there isn't enough undetectable plastic in the world already. What a shame they can't think of way of making the bags without it.

I watched their program about making pasta yesterday on catch up. The size of the factory was amazing, as was the amount they were making.

 

[screenman]

This trend for plastic in anything has to stop. Apart from the pollution, the raw material hydrocarbons are in finite supply and one day mankind might want them for something more useful than tea bags and body scrub.

I am part plastic and have been for over 20 years.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I am part plastic and have been for over 20 years.

Unfortunately we are all part plastic these days, as is every other living thing on the planet.

 

[screenman]

Unfortunately we are all part plastic these days, as is every other living thing on the planet.

Yeh but, I was actualy repaired with the stuff. Brilliant job it was as well.

 

[welsh dragon]

I didn't see the programme, but i am surprised about the plastic in tea bags. Ridiculous that plastic should be in them. So much for re-cycling them. It shows how ridiculous and just how far plastic has invaded everything and everywhere.

 

[Drago]

I am part plastic and have been for over 20 years.

I'm part titanium. A kind of early proto terminator.

 

[Tilley]

I too was surprised by this fact but it did explain the remnants of composted tea bags that we were finding in the compost bin. Now resurrecting the tea pot and going over to loose tea.

 

[Spinney]

I'm part titanium. A kind of early proto terminator.

Before they made one that worked properly?

 

[further]

I'm part titanium. A kind of early proto terminator.

Me Too

 

[Stephenite]

I'm part titanium. A kind of early proto terminator.

Me Too

Me three. But I'm more of a proto C3PO.