1. Pukka Herbs
Pukka is the gold standard for eco-friendly packaging. They use a unique organic cotton stitch to seal their bags instead of heat-melted plastic glue. The paper is made from Manila hemp (abaca). They are fully home compostable and break down quickly.
- 100% Plastic Free (Stitched)
- Organic Cotton String
- Breaks down in months
- Envelopes are paper but coated (recyclable, not compostable)
2. Traditional Medicinals
If you care about chemicals as much as plastic, Traditional Medicinals uses unbleached, brownish paper made from abaca (banana) fiber. They are attached with knotting, not staples or glue. They are rugged but rot down effectively in a well-managed heap.
- Unbleached paper
- Staple-free
- Home Compostable Certified
- Medicinal flavor focus (less for casual drinking)
3. Clipper Teas (Organic Line)
Clipper was the first mainstream UK brand to switch to plant-based, unbleached bags. They use a non-GM bio-material to seal the bags. While technically PLA-based, their specific blend is certified to break down faster than standard corn plastic.
- Unbleached (Brown)
- Plastic-free sealant
- Affordable daily drinker
- Takes longer to compost than Pukka (needs heat)
4. The Republic of Tea
The Republic of Tea uses signature round, unbleached tea bags with no strings, tags, or staples. This minimalist design means there is less waste to begin with. They break down very quickly because there are no thick seams.
- Zero strings/tags waste
- Unbleached fiber
- Fast decomposition
- No string makes fishing them out harder
5. TWG Teas
TWG Teas goes further than just the bag. Their entire package is backyard compostable. The "plastic" lookalike wrapper is made from cellulose and rots in a home bin. If you want zero trace left behind, this is the brand.
- Fully compostable packaging
- Organic loose leaf options
- Carbon free shipping
- Packaging feels flimsy (keep dry!)
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