South African pulp and paper firm Sappi has provided paper-based packaging solution for tea retailer TeeGschwendner.
TeeGschwendner has used Sappi Guard barrier paper in its newly developed pyramid teabags, MasterBag Pyramid, as part of its efforts to increase the usage of packaging developed from renewable raw material.
The paper-based solution comes with integrated barrier functionality, which will help to avoid the application of additional special coatings or laminations.
Sappi’s new paper-based solution serves as an alternative to foils and plastic, enabling to reduce the impact on environment.
The outer packaging of the bag is developed by using Sappi Guard Gloss 4-OHG, which helps to protect the tea bags from loss of flavor, contamination by mineral oils and damage from other environmental factors.
Sappi Guard Gloss 4-OHG includes a mineral oil barrier that avoids to penetrate oxygen and water vapour to protect the flavor of the tea.
The tetrahedron-shaped tea bags can be used for packaging standard and flavoured green and black teas, as well as fruit, herbal and Rooibos tea.
MasterBag Pyramid tea packs, which can be opened in a smooth and controlled manner, are available across TeeGschwendner retail outlets, selected hotels and restaurants.
TeeGschwendner quality management director Thomas Henn said: “Product protection is our top priority at TeeGschwendner. The health of our consumers, and protecting the precious product, which combines a number of valuable resources, are extremely important.”
TeeGschwendner managing director and tea taster Thomas Holz said: “Based on these production issues and our goal to redesign and relaunch all of our packaging in a sustainable manner, with product protection and environmental concerns in mind, we decided on the new MasterBag Pyramid format and a high-barrier, paper-based outer packaging, following a lengthy development and testing phase.”
TeeGschwendner is a retailer of premium tea that operates in Austria, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, the US, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, in addition to its German domestic market.
Image: TeeGschwendner has used Sappi Guard barrier paper in its newly developed pyramid teabags. Photo: courtesy of Sappi.