Health hazard: tea bags release huge amounts of microplastics!

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Many people drink tea as part of everyday life, but what ends up in the cup is a cause for concern. As part of a recent market check, Greenpeace examined various herbal teas and published alarming findings. The main problem: Many tea bags contain microplastics that are released during brewing.

Tea bags release microplastics
Many people drink tea as part of everyday life, but what ends up in the cup is a cause for concern. As part of a recent market check, Greenpeace examined various herbal teas and published alarming findings. The main problem: Many tea bags contain microplastics that are released during brewing.

Paper teabags: Even if they look like innocent paper, they often contain small amounts of plastic. This is used to reinforce the material or to seal the bags.

Pyramid teabags: This is where it gets critical: these modern bags are often made entirely of plastic. Although this makes them visually appealing and robust, they release considerable amounts of microplastics when they come into contact with hot water.

In 2019, a Canadian study showed that plastic tea bags have a higher microplastic load than most other foods. The researchers found that a single plastic tea bag at 95 degrees Celsius releases around 11.6 billion microplastic particles and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into the tea water—an alarmingly high amount.

However, the study also met with criticism. The test conditions were not always close to everyday life, and it was pointed out that microplastics could also get into the cup from other sources, such as the air. Nevertheless, the results make it clear that plastic tea bags are a considerable additional burden.

Which tea can you still use?
Even though science does not yet know all the effects of microplastics on the human body, we should not ignore the risks. To avoid microplastics in your tea, there are simple and sustainable alternatives:

Reach for organic brands: Many organic teas come with degradable or plastic-free tea bags made from paper or plant-based material. Greenpeace has tested the range of herbal teas in supermarkets and compiled a ranking.
Loose tea: This is the safest choice. With a tea strainer or a tea egg, you can not only avoid microplastics but also reduce packaging waste.