TESCO is set to revamp its tea range to ensure its teabags can be disposed of in waste food caddies.
The move will also come alongside newly designed packaging which ‘clearly’ displays information on how to dispose of teabags.
It comes following a survey by the supermarket which found that millions of used teabags are being disposed of incorrectly – with Tesco saying that many shoppers are confused about which bin to put them in.
Nearly half of those polled in the survey (43%) said that they put used teabags in with their general waste. A further 6% said they put them in their recycling bins, whilst 24% put them in a waste food caddy, and 12% in the home compost.
Tesco said that teabags are ‘frequently’ discarded in the wrong way, with only 30% of adults knowing that they contain plastic. It explained that, for decades, teabag manufacturers have used polypropylene to heat seal bags to prevent the contents spilling out in the box or once hot water has been poured over them.
The supermarket’s survey was taken ahead of it beginning the move to make all of its teabags compostable via food caddies. Tesco said that by the summer, all of its teabags will be compostable – which it said works out at more than one billion bags a year.
Furthermore, to overcome any future recycling confusion, Tesco said it will also launch newly designed packs for the tea which ‘clearly’ display information on the correct way to compost the teabags in food waste caddies.
The new labelling will read, “We now make our tea bags out of plant-based material. Once used put your tea bag into your food waste bin. Our tea bags biodegrade into compost.”
Tesco packaging manager, Adele Kearns, said, “This is a huge move that will help clear up the confusion for millions of people on how to dispose of their tea bags once used. We hope that making all of our tea bags compostable with clear labelling helps our customers correctly do their bit for the environment.”
Adam Herriott, sector specialist – resource management of WRAP, added, “It’s great to hear of further moves by Tesco, a founding member of The UK Plastics Pact, to make positive changes to their products and make it easier for consumers to tackle plastic waste. Now more citizens can enjoy their morning cup of tea safe in the knowledge that once the bag is in their food waste caddy it will breakdown with the other organic material. However, we must continue to go further, and ensure we bring in more changes that benefit shoppers and the environment.”
