10 Best Plastic-Free Teabags UK | Pukka Clipper and More

Teapigs are no strangers to sustainability. In fact, they were the first recipients of the plastic-free trust mark, gifted by 'A Plastic Planet' - a campaign group dedicated to turning off 'the plastic tap'. That's because every bit of their sustainable packaging is either compostable or recyclable.

The bags themselves are made from compostable corn starch, the paper tags use vegetable inks, and yes, even the deceivingly plastic-like inner bag is made from compostable NatureFlex! To top it all off, this delicious English Breakfast alternative combines assam, Ceylon, and Rwandan blends for a truly perfect morning brew.

From the Manchester brand Brew Tea comes a solution that's sustainable from field to cup. They're supporters of small estate growers, and their packaging is plastic-free and completely recyclable.

The inner lining is made from NatureFlex, and the bags themselves are made from 100% compostable corn starch. These plastic-free bags house whole Ceylon black tea leaves mixed with bergamot oil, orange peel and calendula petals, creating a delicious, refreshing brew.

You've probably heard of Pukka, and that's because they've been making quality teas now for twenty years. Not content to rest on their laurels, they maintain a heartfelt commitment to sustainability and consistently put work into bettering their packaging.

One way they've achieved this is by altering the material used to make the individual envelopes that keep their tea extra fresh. Now they are made with ordinary, recyclable paper. A small change, but one that has removed more than 100 tonnes of waste from the brand's supply chain. It's just one of the reasons that Pukka continue to be one of the UK's best and most sustainable tea brands.

You may be surprised to hear that it was Hampstead Tea who first produced a fully home compostable tea bag. Pop it on the compost heap, and it'll be gone in 91 days, as will the inner pouches that hold them.

Hampstead's teabags are made from sugar starch and are very unique as they don't use strings or labels but instead come with a bamboo tong for removal. The whole leaf, organic blend, and complete lack of chemicals, results in a well-rounded taste that you'll easily return to again and again.

Setting up in the late 90s, Teatulia were the originators of the first organic tea in Bangladesh. They are a genuinely compassionate company, bringing numerous benefits to local people, such as employing 3,500 local women and providing healthcare and education to workers and their families.

The tea itself is made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis assamica bush and is completely chemical-free. Instead of using chemicals, the Neem Trees surrounding the plantation act as natural pesticides. Of course, the bags are also completely biodegradable, made from a mesh called soilon and containing no glue whatsoever. 

Their popularity means Clipper tea bags line supermarket shelves everywhere, and you'll likely recognise the green box. Their success is in large part owing to their sustainability and their distinctive non-bleached, earthy-toned bags.

Every teabag is also plastic-free, being made entirely from non-GM-plants. In fact, Clipper were the providers of the world's first fair trade teabags! Unfortunately, their inner foil packaging isn't yet recyclable, but they assure us they're working on it.

Originating in Australia, T2 Tea moved to London in 2014, where their success has seen them open 14 stores. Their commitment to sustainability has earned them a B Corps Certification, which is awarded to businesses that meet the highest standards of environmental performance.

Unsurprisingly, then, their tea bags are made from cornstarch and are home compostable in 18-24 months - or quicker if you send it to your local council food composting centre. Unfortunately, the inner plastic is not yet recyclable, but T2 are currently working on switching to a plant-based material.

Eteaket teabags are named after the Edinburgh Café that makes them, and which has produced their own tea bags and loose leaf teas since 2008. They're part of the Ethical Tea Partnership, and this is immediately apparent in the packaging they use.

The inner packaging that houses the tea bags is made from NatureFlex - a recyclable and home compostable material - while the bags themselves are made from non-bleached and compostable soilon. Even the tags are made from non-laminated paper and attached to the string via ultrasound! It's a shame that they can't be composted at home, but industrially compostable is certainly better than nothing!

Nemi's tea bags have been plastic-free since their launch in 2017, with a pyramid shape that's made from GM-free soilon, which can easily be composted at home. All inner packaging is also made from NatureFlex material, and even the strings and labels are attached using ultrasound.

Perhaps the best thing about Nemi, however, is their commitment to helping refugees integrate into the UK by giving them jobs running their tea stalls. The only real downside here is that the cardboard tube can only be 'upcycled', or repurposed, rather than completely recycled.

At only 4 years old, Roqberry is a relative newcomer to the market, but their commitment to sustainability is evidenced in their use of compostable soilon pyramid bags. We do, however, recommend chucking them in your council food waste bin as they take quite a while to decompose if done at home.

Their cube boxes are also made from recyclable, FSC-certified paper, and their colourful designs reflect Roqberry's playful attitudes towards their own flavours. As innovative with their tea as they are in their packaging, they often mix blends to create entirely new ones. This one combines black Assam tea with cinnamon, ginger, and more - yum!