The move will make Waitrose the first UK supermarket to have certified home compostable tea bags that will prevent around 4.5 million bags annually from entering landfill
Waitrose has announced its plan to make its own brand of tea bags home compostable. (Credit: John Lewis Partnership Plc)
British supermarket chain Waitrose has announced its plan to make its own brand of tea bags home compostable to reduce pollution.
With the move, Waitrose is the first UK supermarket to sell certified own-brand home compostable tea bags.
According to the supermarket chain, the initiative will save over 4.5 million tea bags a year from entering landfill or incineration, which is equal to 12.2 tonnes of tea bag material.
Waitrose said that all the Duchy tea bags can now be thrown directly into a home compost bin or heap due to the addition of the TUV OK compost HOME certification.
Using tea bags in compost offers a nitrogen-rich component that is good for plants and can be utilised to enhance the soil in the garden, the UK-based firm added.
Additionally, the packaging on the tea bag tags has also been modified to limit ink coverage to ensure that the tea bags can degrade more quickly.
Waitrose packaging development manager Christina Capellaro said: “The reali-tea is that our customers want to make whatever changes they can to ensure they’re shopping, eating and drinking more sustainably.
“By securing accreditation for products such as our Duchy home compostable tea bags, we’re reassuring our customers that by making these little changes to their shopping habits, they can reduce their impact on the environment.”
The British supermarket chain claimed that all Duchy tea bags purchased in-store or online now can be processed via a home compost bin.
Waitrose will continue to utilise existing packaging in stock, which will not specify the new compostable accreditation.
Last year in March, luxury brand Anya Hindmarch partnered with Waitrose to launch The Universal Bag in Waitrose stores across the nation.
The Universal Bag is produced from 100% recycled plastic material and is certified under Global Recycling Scheme (GRS).