Tea giant Clipper are to launch a new plastic-free teabag that will be made from a type of banana.
The green alternative is part of the company’s ambition to lower its carbon foot print and reduce the environmental impact of its tea products.
A number of leading tea brands currently use polypropylene, a sealing plastic, to fasten tea bags and make sure they keep their shape.
Clipper announced that, as of October 20, it has moved all production to a new type of tea bag that, instead of the plastic polypropylene seal, will use natural plant-based materials.
The tea bags will be made using a blend of abaca, which is a species of banana, and a biopolymer made from a non-GM plant material known as PLA.
The new bags will also be biodegradable and compostable to industrial standards, making them more eco-friendly.
The tea company, one of the UK’s biggest, is believed to be the first brand to introduce a plastic-free tea bag.
Other leading companies, like PG tips and the Co-op, said earlier this year they both plan to switch to biodegradable tea bags by the end of the year.
