Teabags release 'billions' of plastic particles into each cup
The war on plastic is gaining traction worldwide, and a huge number of households are trying to reduce their reliance on plastic. A recent YouGov poll showed that the areas in which people in the UK are trying to reduce their plastic consumption include fresh fruit and vegetables (81 percent), household and cleaning products (36 percent), homeware (32 percent) and personal care products like toothpaste and shampoos (27 percent).
This poll on UK shopping habits also found that more than half of the survey respondents were happy to pay more for eco-friendly packaging, so why are tea companies opting to use plastic teabags over eco-friendly options?
A plastic polymer has to be used in order for the teabags to stay sealed and keep their shape in hot water, tea manufacturers claim, also saying that non-plastic teabags would be too expensive to make.
This is despite evidence showing that the type of plastic used in teabags (polypropylene) can cause damage to the endocrine system, fertility, and increase a person’s chances of developing genetic mutations and tumors.
Researchers have published a study in the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science and Technology that reveals plastic tea bags release “billions” of plastic micro- and nanoparticles into the tea, which are then consumed by the millions of tea-drinkers worldwide (with 159 million tea-drinkers in America alone).
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