What are Biodegradable Tea Bags Made of?

Some high-end brands make the tea bag itself out of plastic rather than paper. 'Mesh' is made from strands that are usually made of nylon or polyester and are woven to create a net-like fabric. Mesh teabags are often marketed as 'silky', but they are not made of silk. They release a huge number of microplastics and are not biodegradable.

Are all plastic-free tea bags the same?

As a more eco-friendly alternative to polypropylene, many tea brands and supermarkets are using a material called polylactic acid to seal their teabags. Polylactic acid, or PLA, is a plant-based plastic, sometimes referred to as a bioplastic. Biodegradable Tea Bags containing PLA are often described as 'plastic-free', but PLA is not a perfect solution.

While PLA is biodegradable, it requires industrial composting to break down. According to Dr Mayes, putting teabags that contain PLA in your home compost isn't recommended. "It probably takes several years to degrade, and we don't really understand how harmful it might be to organisms in the meantime. It will degrade after a few years, so it's not as bad as polypropylene, but it's better to avoid it where possible."

How should I dispose of my tea bag?

Unfortunately, the large majority of tea bags are not home compostable. Compostable Tea Bags made with PLA instead of polypropylene can be placed into your food waste bin to be industrially composted by your local council.

If your tea bag contains polypropylene, or you don't have a food waste recycling bin yet, you can still reduce waste by removing the tea inside the teabag when you've finished with it, and adding this to your home compost. The bag itself can go into your general waste bin.