Asda has made a major change to its own brand tea bags by introducing plant-based packaging, meaning that the 550 million tea bags it sells each year can be disposed of in kerbside food waste bins.
The new tea bags are made from PLA derived from corn starch, which is a natural, plant-based material and will replace the non-renewable oil-based plastic bags which it has previously used .
Asda will phase in the new bags over the next six months across its entire range, from Just Essentials to Extra Special.
Jon Wells Packaging Technologist at Asda, said: “We know our customers want to do all they can to reduce their impact on the environment and we want to make that as easy as possible for them.
“Tea is a staple in most customer’s households so for us to make a change which can make such a difference is a big moment for us.”
Adam Herriott, Sector Specialist – Resource Management, WRAP, said: “It’s positive to hear of further moves by Asda, a founding member of The UK Plastics Pact, to make innovative moves on their products and tackle plastic waste. We must continue to go further, and ensure we bring in more changes that benefit shoppers and the environment”.
