A new study from scientists in University College Cork (UCC) has explored the effect that Ireland’s tea drinking habits is having on the environment.
The research was commissioned by Lyons Tea and independently investigated nine well-known tea brands in Ireland, revealing surprising findings.
The study showed that three brands have introduced biodegradable teabags to its ranges- but that six brands of teabags in Ireland do not biodegrade.
The process undertaken for UCC’s study focused on two experiments, with the first being an outdoor experiment which buried the teabags in organic soil to emulate real-life environmental conditions.
The second was a chemical test which verified these results.
The research concluded that Lyons Tea is the only major black tea brand whose entire range biodegrades completely into the environment, fully degrading in less than 75 days.
According to the research, 73% of shoppers dispose of all teabags into a food waste (brown) bin.
However, the scientific experiments prove that Lyons Tea is the only full major black tea range in Ireland that can be disposed of in this way.
Other major tea ranges either remained intact or in a brittle form during the same tests.
The ranges that do not biodegrade use a petroleum-based plastic called polypropylene, which is a non-biodegradable plastic that will produce micro plastics and can remain in the environment for a very long time.
Dr Alicia Mateos Cárdenas, who conducted the study, called on more brands to implement biodegradable teabags.
"While it is great to see that some tea brands are producing more environmentally friendly teabag solutions, two thirds of Ireland’s tea ranges still contain a petroleum-based plastic," she said.
"It is important that all tea brands make the switch to fully plant based and biodegradable ranges, which will contribute to reducing plastic pollution.
"Consumers can control the impact of their tea drinking on the environment by educating themselves on which teabags contain plastic and consciously drinking a range that does not. It’s small changes like this that go a long way to protecting our planet," she finished.
