Sainsbury’s announces mass rollout of plant-based own brand teabags
Sainsbury’s has announced that it will be conducting a mass rollout of its first plant-based own brand tea bag from June 2021.
The move is part of the supermarket’s plans to halve plastic packaging by 2025 and to become net zero in its own operations by 2040.
Sainsbury’s said its current own brand teabags are made of 75% natural fibres and 25% oil-based plastic sealing material. However, it is now trialling a plant-based plastic called Polylactic acid (PLA), which is made from the sugars in cornstarch, cassava or sugarcane. PLA teabags are industrially compostable unlike the retailer’s current own brand teabags..
Claire Hughes, director of product, packaging and innovation at Sainsbury’s, said: “This extensive rollout of our new tea bags, is another example of how we are looking to implement new innovative products that will reduce the impact our business has on the environment. Our move towards plant-based teabags has required significant time and multiple trials to ensure that our customers receive the same great quality teabag and we look forward to the roll out in stores this year.”
