Tea bags and microplastics

[Anonymous]

I use Harney & Sons loose leaf (buy in bulk from their site) and a mesh tea strainer cup. Super easy to use, easy clean up, no micro plastics, less waste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bigelow teas supposedly don't have any plastic in the tea bag. That's what I drink.

Also, this isn’t quality tea.

[Anonymous]

I moved over to loose leaf as well and use a stainless steel tea ball.

[Anonymous]

From the Republic of Tea website:

The Republic of Tea’s signature round tea bags have always been made from unbleached tea paper, free of excess wrapping, strings, tags and staples. The unbleached tea paper is free of chemicals and no chlorine-containing compounds are used in the paper. Our tea bags are free of glue and are gluten-free

[Anonymous]

From the Republic of Tea website:

The Republic of Tea’s signature round tea bags have always been made from unbleached tea paper, free of excess wrapping, strings, tags and staples. The unbleached tea paper is free of chemicals and no chlorine-containing compounds are used in the paper. Our tea bags are free of glue and are gluten-free

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, very sad. Not sure if that caused my cancer. My plan is to shift to loose tea. I am truly devastated

I'm so sorry. Can I ask what kind of cancer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the Republic of Tea website:

The Republic of Tea’s signature round tea bags have always been made from unbleached tea paper, free of excess wrapping, strings, tags and staples. The unbleached tea paper is free of chemicals and no chlorine-containing compounds are used in the paper. Our tea bags are free of glue and are gluten-free

Doesn't tea do better loose in a teapot, rather than trying to have the most organic tea bags.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps re: tea being better loose in a teapot, but my teenagers prefer the tea bags. If I can find ones without microplastics, done.

[Anonymous]

OP, PG Tips switched away from using plastics (they use corn starch now) in their tea bags in 2021. This article was published in 2018 but it took them some time to make the shift.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43224797

Yorkshire Tea uses a plant-based plastic (PLA) in their bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, very sad. Not sure if that caused my cancer. My plan is to shift to loose tea. I am truly devastated

Don’t worry, your tea is hardly your only exposure to microplastics. They’re in the air we breathe from degrading car tires, the water we drink, and in the food we eat. While it’s important to minimize exposure where we can, it’s truly impossible to avoid it.

Don't forget your clothes.

Plastic "fabrics" like polys in clothing are the main source of airborne and ingested microplastics. The dryer spews out tons of plastic into the air. Ever notice how much you smell a person's dryer when you walk by their house?

Along with plastic drinking containers, aluminum cans, and furniture/carpeting/LVP flooring etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, very sad. Not sure if that caused my cancer. My plan is to shift to loose tea. I am truly devastated

I'm so sorry. Can I ask what kind of cancer?

TN breast cancer. Not fueled by estrogen, progesterone or HER2.

[Anonymous]

Traditional medicinals and yogi brands do not have any micro plastics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, very sad. Not sure if that caused my cancer. My plan is to shift to loose tea. I am truly devastated

Don’t worry, your tea is hardly your only exposure to microplastics. They’re in the air we breathe from degrading car tires, the water we drink, and in the food we eat. While it’s important to minimize exposure where we can, it’s truly impossible to avoid it.

Don't forget your clothes.

Plastic "fabrics" like polys in clothing are the main source of airborne and ingested microplastics. The dryer spews out tons of plastic into the air. Ever notice how much you smell a person's dryer when you walk by their house?

Along with plastic drinking containers, aluminum cans, and furniture/carpeting/LVP flooring etc.

So true. Am now prioritizing my cotton and linen clothes for this reason. As a side note, our fake fabric bras are the worst, especially the underwires. As soon as I get home, I switch to an organic cotton Jockey bralette. Am large sized, but it works at home. They’re only $20., I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, very sad. Not sure if that caused my cancer. My plan is to shift to loose tea. I am truly devastated

I'm so sorry. Can I ask what kind of cancer?

Breast cancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've done some research and it seems like tea bags do leach microplastics. I can't find anything saying which brands are safer. Did you ditch your tea stash or gone with loose tea?

We’ve been poisoned for a very long time.