Spilling the Tea and Plastic Free Swaps
"I'll have a cup of microplastic with my tea please!" - said no-one ever!
Plastics are known as EDCs, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and they muck up our hormones and create havoc in our bodies in many ways.
Research shows that plastics hijack our thyroid, break down our gut lining, impact fertlity, affect weight gain and even lead to breast and prostate cancer. Recent studies have revealed that microplastics are found in our blood, lungs, human breast milk and even in the tissues of mom and baby. While we don't know the long term effects of these teeny-tiny pieces of plastic yet there are ways to minimize and reduce exposure. Your daily cup of tea is a great place to start!
Many tea bags are made with plastic. When dunked in a hot cup of water, plastic leaches into your cup. Several companies are making the swap to plastic free sachets and making tea bags from organic biodegradable plants instead.
Check out some of our favorite organic plastic-free tea brands:
Rishi sachets are plant based & biodegradable
Traditional Medicinals sachets are made from plant fibers and wood pulp with organic non-GMO cotton strings
Teapigs tea bags are made with cornstarch and heat sealed, rather than using glue
Another great option is to go loose leaf. Be sure to steep your tea in a stainless steel infuser or a glass tea press
Local? Check our Aroyga in Westport for their selection of organic and wild harvest tea selection.
Looking for other plastic-free swaps you can make? We got you:
Swap plastic Tupperware with glass
Swap your plastic water bottle for a stainless steel one (we recommended the Owala one in last weeks newsletter)
Swap ziplock baggies for silicone ones like Stasher bags
Have questions? Book an appointment with Sarah Becker to learn more.