Our Teabags Are Plastic Free

There has been a lot of talk in recent media about microplastics in tea bags. If you’re reading this blog looking for an answer about whether or not Griffo teas contain any microplastics the answer is NO!  There has never been and will never be any microplastics in Griffo teabags.

It goes without saying that when we were designing our teas we needed them to be made from the best herbs. We work with Spring Wind Herbs, so we got that covered.

The challenge came in choosing a tea bag material. Paper is biodegradable but doesn’t allow much herb per tea bag. Additionally, the herbs have to be ground so fine they lose their potency. We found many beautiful pyramid tea bags that show off the herbs inside and allow for more blend per bag, but most of them are made from nylon or other plastics. Not cool. So the key for us was to use a plastic free material that held more blend, showed off the gorgeous herbs and would naturally decompose. We made the decision to go with a Soilon® mesh, and haven’t looked back.

What is Soilon?

Soilon was chosen for our tea bags because it can be readily broken down by microorganisms in the soil, and doesn’t release any microplastics into your mug. Here are a few of the great things about this tea bag material.

1. Biodegradable Material: Soilon is a biodegradable material called Poly Lactic Acid derived from corn starch that contains no plastic whatsoever. The material is laser sealed so there are no glues or staples holding it together.
2. Sustainable and Renewable: The use of PLA in Soilon mesh tea bags contributes to reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources. PLA can be produced from agricultural by-products or waste materials, which helps in reducing environmental impact.
3. Biodegradability: Soilon mesh tea bags are designed to biodegrade in a composting environment. This means that they can break down naturally over time without leaving behind harmful residues or microplastics.
4. Retains Tea Quality: Soilon mesh tea bags are designed to allow water to flow easily through the bag, facilitating proper steeping and extraction of flavors from the tea leaves. The mesh material does not hinder the release of flavors and aromas, resulting in a quality tea-drinking experience.

Many other tea bags are made from nylon and other types of plastic. Plastic does not readily break down in the environment but when it does it releases microplastics. Pouring hot water over a plastic tea bag can release millions of microplastics into your mug. One study showed that one cup from a single tea bag could contain 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles. Microplastics are scarcely talked about when it comes to tea, although increasingly people are becoming aware of the danger that they pose.

Luckily for our customers, Griffo is not only one of the few Chinese medicine tea makers, we are also dedicated to the environment and to people looking to make positive decisions about their consumption. Our tea bags are now sold across the United States.